Clarke’s catch 22 shows always a Big Chance
at Fannie Bay LEADING Darwin trainer Gary Clarke celebrated another double at Fannie Bay yesterday to take his number of winners for the 2013/ 14 season up to 22.
Clarke won the opening race when NT first- starter Devil’s Dream romped home but had to wait until the feature race, the Kerry Holden BMNT 70 Handicap, for his second of the day.
Big Chance, ridden by Richie Oakford, was too strong for the other eight horses in the run home, winning by 2¼ lengths.
It’s Home, one of three Clarke runners in the race four feature, was second with Barry Huppatz on board while the David Jupp-trained Admiral’s Order, who was ridden by apprentice Melanie Tyndall, finished third. ‘‘I am very happy with that run,’’ Oakford said after weighing in. ‘‘He was a little bit disappointing last time (seventh of 11 on Melbourne Cup Day). He let down pretty well (yesterday).’’
Clarke was happy with the way both Big Chance and It’s Home performed on a wet day. ‘‘Big Chance is a nice little horse,’’ Clarke said.
‘‘It’s probably his pet journey, 1300m. He came up here from the Gold Coast and had good form as a young horse, placed in Listed company.
‘‘Now he . . . might find that form again.’’
The combination of Clarke and jockey Brendon Davis proved too strong in the first race, the Designer Kitchens TROBIS Maiden Plate. Devil’s Dream, a son of Lonhro, proved his breeding with a 7½ lengths victory to give Davis his 10th of the season.
‘‘On his form he did not look too much of a horse but Gary told me to give him a good dig out and get him travelling and hopefully he will finish off,’’ Davis said.
‘‘Once I quickened him up he let down good.’’
The contest for the minor placings was impressive with the Kerry Petrick- trained Where Are You pipping jockey Felicia Bergstrand’s mount In Reality by a half head. Jockey Wayne Davis was delighted with the professionalism of Black Fusion
Now he has had a couple of victories
he might find that
form again
after the four-year-old gelding triumphed in the second race, thePTMGroup Handicap.
Black Fusion lived up to his potential for next year’s bigger races with a strong win, defeating Night Option ( Vanessa Arnott) with Faldane ( Scott Hillebrand) running home third.
‘‘Black Fusion is obviously a very promising horse in the making,’’ said Davis, who has now partnered him for three wins and a second from his four Darwin starts.
‘‘I think he can turn into a very nice Carnival horse for next year. He’s very professional and well mannered and knows what it is about.’’
Jockey Felicia Bergstrand was pleased with the determination shown by Corona Girl in winning race three, the Southern Cross Television Handicap over 1200m.
The Chris Pollard-trained mare won her first race since August as she outsprinted the David Bates-trained Reslenda to win by two lengths with Almadine third.
Bergstrand said she had learned from her experience with Westend Smash in the previous race in guiding Corona Girl home.
‘‘I got stuck on the fence in the last race on Westend Smash, so Chris ( Pollard) told me to stay off the fence this time and obviously it paid off,’’ she said.
The final race, the Sportingbet Handicap, brought smiles to the faces of connections of Pleasure or Pain.
The Tayarn Halter-trained six- year- old gelding had not won since Alice Springs about a year ago but, with Paul Shiers in the saddle, the breakthrough finally came yesterday.
Pleasure of Pain has suffered foot problems but Halter and her team seem to have the son of Falvelon heading back in the right direction.
‘‘I had some pretty soft sectionals in front,’’ Shiers said.
‘‘After going at that pace, I could run home at a genuine click and they would be struggling.’’