Legendary NT trainer Gary Clarke wins the Palmerston Sprint with gelding Syncline at Darwin Turf Club

A co-owner of Palmerston Sprint winner Syncline says her late daughter was “looking down” on Fannie Bay today as the five-year-old streamed to victory.

THE Gary Clarke-trained Syncline has won an emotion-charged Palmerston Sprint at Darwin Turf Club on Saturday, leaving one of its jubilant owners close to tears.

The $5 favourite, ridden by Jarrod Todd, saluted easily at Fannie Bay in the $135,000, 1200m feature race making his move out of the turn and extended his lead with every metre from there.

The five-year-old gelding was almost two lengths ahead of runner-up Smuggling, from the stable of Phil Cole, when it hit the line.

It was Dick Leech’s Easy Beast who completed the podium, four-and-a-half lengths behind the race leader, just pipping Clarke’s second sprinter, The Captain, ridden by Adam Nicholls.

At the official presentation, Clarke said Todd had proved yet again he was a huge part of his stable by taking out the Territory’s premier sprint.

“He’s not only our stable rider, he’s one of the team,” Clarke said, his fifth sprint win in his glittering career.

“He deserves all the success he gets because he works very hard for it.

“It’s a race I try and target every year.

“You need everything to go right to get up here after the race.”

Gary Clarke with wife Sharlene after winning the Palmerston Sprint with Syncline. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

Co-owner Chris Lambley was clearly the happiest man on the track, saying the victory had followed a rough 12 months for the Clarke family after the loss of Gary’s son Guy.

“It was fantastic, I’ve won a lot of Palmerston Sprints but this was a really important one with the loss the Clarke family has suffered,” Lambley told the NT News moments after the win.

“Gary and the team have done an amazing job.

“There’s nothing better than winning the Palmerston Sprint, this is the hardest race to win in Darwin.

“Northern Territory is full of sprinters.

“What they’ve achieved is just sensational.”

He said it was an “amazing feeling” to pocket another sprint.

“As an owner, you don’t train the horses, you don’t feed the horses, you don’t treat the horses but on a day like today you’ve part it,” he said.

Fellow co-owner Leanne Montgomerie, whose daughter Simone died after a race fall at Fannie Bay almost nine years to the day on a Clarke-trained horse, said it was “special” victory.

The Gary Clarke-trained Syncline with jockey Jarrod Todd wins the 2022 Palmerston Sprint. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

“I think (Simone) was looking down on us today, it was a tough race,” Montgomerie said.

“Nine years this year, so it has been an emotional time.

“Simone loved the sport, we love the sport and I think you just keep doing it for her.

“It’s one big family, the racing community. Everyone gets behind you, gets you past those dark days.”

At the presentation, Todd said it was a special win for the Clarke stable.

“They’re a wonderful family,” Todd said

“They’re not just trainers, they’re not just my employers, they make me feel part of the family.

“It’s a very special win today, we’ve had a very tough year.

“We’ve got the Alice (Spring) cup, and now we’ve got the sprint.

“It doesn’t make up for anything, but it just shows you how strong willed they are.”

Originally published as Legendary NT trainer Gary Clarke wins the Palmerston Sprint with gelding Syncline at Darwin Turf Club