Clarke’s limits on Taciturn

LEADING Top End trainer Gary Clarke played down suggestions last night his gelding Taciturn could do some damage in the upcoming Darwin Cup Carnival.

Clarke had just watched his five-year-old stroll away with the $19,500 Magic Millions Handicap (1600m) at Fannie Bay yesterday, before being asked the inevitable question on whether the horse would run in the big carnival races.

His three-length defeat of odds-on pre-race favourite and stablemate Metallic Crown, with hoop Barry Huppatz on board after being in the lead group for most of the race, suggested better to come.

“He’s been a pretty honest horse ever since I got him, he’s never far away in races and is a nice wet-season horse,’’ Clarke said.

“He suits the Darwin style of racing where he races up front and makes his own luck, it happened again today.

“But he won’t be a carnival horse I don’t think, unless he sort of takes the next step.

“Really this is his time of year and he’ll probably take a break when the carnival comes and go again after it.’’

Trainer Tom Harrower’s race favourite Choice Approach pipped Phil Cole’s Livadas for honours in race two when he won by a head with jockey Kayla Cross on board.

Vanessa Arnott made it an early Mother’s Day present for punters when she steered $4.80 chance Karmonaaron over the line for Garry Lefoe Jr in race three.

Race favourite Dancer’s Kin had to be content with a share of second prize when he dead-heated with Howdee in a three-way run to the judge.

And Clarke claimed a double when Patriot Day (stable jockey Brendon Davis) won race four by 3½ lengths over Caitlin’s Angel for Cole.