Winning Vibe key for Our Rhomeo
at Fannie Bay THE Jason Manning-trained Our Rhomeo broke through for his first Darwin win and the second of his career from 18 starts when he flashed home in the opening race — the Adina Vibe Class B Handicap (1300m).
The five-year-old gelding has been disappointing in his career to date but Manning appears to be getting the best out of the son of Lonhro if yesterday’s performance at Fannie Bay was anything to go by.
Our Rhomeo battled it out with Bushmaster ( Richie Oakford) in the finishing straight, gaining the upper hand late to win the race by two lengths.
Mykindacolour ( Melanie Tyndall) was third, 3¾ lengths behind Bushmaster.
Our Rhomeo’s win was an early Christmas present for jockey Vanessa Arnott.
‘‘He actually is a very, very good horse,’’ Arnott said.
‘‘ He should be winning races like that (regularly).
‘‘I am hoping that might get his confidence up.
‘‘We have tried different gear. We put the shadow (noseroll) on today — maybe that is the ticket.’’
Jockey Alana Brown made it two wins and a second from three rides back after a lengthy out through injury when Almadine saluted in the second race over 1100m, the Balton Rex Handicap.
The five-year-old gelding proved too strong for the Gary Clarke-trained Agent Of Mercy winning by a comfortable margin of 1 ½ lengths. Hill of Faith (Tyndall) was third.
Agent Of Mercy had been sent out as the favourite after winning her last three races in Darwin. Brown said she was surprised with the way Almadine went to the line.
‘‘ To be honest I did not think it was the best race for him,’’ she said.
‘‘I thought we would have to drop back a grade for him to win another one.
‘‘I did not think he would be quick enough to keep up with him but he was.’’
Trainer Alwyn Trengove finished the year with a win when Hamish Boy (Richie Oakford) stormed home to win the last, the Airnorth Handicap (1300m).
The six- year- old gelding has been in the habit of running places in Darwin but yesterday he collected the fifth win of his career with a popular victory.
He finished a length ahead of Welcome Return (Vanessa Arnott) with Please or Pain (Barry Huppatz) third.
It also gave Oakford a backto- back riding double after he won the previous event, the day’s feature race, on Big Chance.
‘‘He probably should have won a couple more but today he was ridden the exact way, to win,’’ Trengove said.
‘‘He is honest as the day and does not know how to run a bad race.’’
Oakford said Hamish Boy was always consistent and thoroughly deserved his win.
‘‘Halfway down the straight I had my doubts that he was going to go past him but he seemed to kick again and he went right past him,’’ Oakford said.