Wiseman and Arnott hold sway at Fannie Bay
IT was Ladies Day at Fannie Bay, with the five-race card being dominated by hat-trick heroine Sonja Wiseman and Vanessa Arnott, who bagged a double in the first two races on the card.
Wiseman, after watching Arnott win the opening two races aboard Precautionary and Weapon, hit back in devastating fashion, winning the last three events aboard Jet Jackson, Vela and Mighty Murt.
Jet Jackson, at his third Darwin start, finished over the top of veteran Kaptan Apollo to win by ¾ of a-length in the
Darwin Cup Carnival Tickets on Sale Handicap (1200m), while Vela finished strongly along the inside to score by a length over Northern Factor and Toorak Road in the Silks Chinese New Year Banquet Handicap.
Both horses are trained by Mark Nyhan, who along with
Wiseman, has been in great form. He has now trained the winners of six races from just 19 starters this season.
“Super Sonia” wasn’t done there though, guiding Red Centre visitor Mighty Murt along the inside for a tremendous win in the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series (Ht 4) Handicap.
The Lisa Whittle-trained grey rounded up Don’t Wait and Sweet Cheval in the last 100m to win by a length.
Weapon, having his first start for almost four months, proved too strong for favourite Syncline and company in the feature Wayne Carey Sportsman’s Lunch Handicap.
The 7yo son of Written Tycoon, trained by Garry Lefoe, had last raced on September 18, but showed his liking for the Darwin 1300m with an all-theway win. Weapon scored by ¾ of a-length from a game Syncline, with Bull Market third.
It was Weapon’s fourth win from eight starts at the 1300m trip in Darwin.
Arnott began the day winning the first, the Bridge Toyota Handicap, with a frontrunning ride aboard Precautionary, trained by her partner Jason Manning.
The Albion took over early in the straight but Precautionary wasn’t done and scored by ¾ of a-length.