Bates happy with new-look Azrael’s winning form

Trainer David Bates had plenty of reasons to smile at Fannie Bay on Saturday when unpredictable Azrael won the opening race.

Jockey Richie Oakford drives It’s Black Magic to the line in race two. Picture: HELEN ORR

TRAINER David Bates expressed his relief after Azrael won the opening race over 1300m at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

Jockey Craig Lloyd was on board as Azrael ($4.60) stormed home down the finishing straight to claim her second career win from 21 starts.

Azrael’s form has been disappointing in Darwin with the four-year-old mare confusing connections with her inability to produce the goods.

“She is no superstar by any means but a win is a win,” Bates said.

“She is one of those horses that is very hard to catch spot on.”

But yesterday was one of those good days as Azrael finished strongly to defeat Watch this Space by one and three-quarter lengths with Katespur (Vanessa Arnott) a further one and a quarter lengths behind.

Bates said he had changed Azrael’s training schedule.

“I have lightened off on her work and kept her fresher, which seems to have paid off,” said Bates, who has no long-term plans for the mare but may look to more distance for her in the future.

Trainer Gary Clarke gained some amends for It’s Black Magic missing out on last Saturday’s St Patrick’s Day Cup when the five-year-old gelding charged home to win the feature race yesterday, the Simon Says TV Handicap.

It’s Black Magic, the $2.50 favourite, was first emergency last week but missed out because of its lesser rating.

The manner in which the former Victorian galloper gathered up and passed long-time leader Ra Ikane in the finishing straight was a further indication that he would have been right in the mix in the cup classic.

The Stephen Brown-trained Timely Kiss (Alana Brown) was second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while Ra Ikane ­(Vanessa Arnott) was a further two and three-quarter lengths adrift.

With Richie Oakford on board, It’s Black Magic built on his form last month when he won over yesterday’s 1300m distance and was placed second over a mile. Oakford said he believed It’s Black Magic would have been more than competitive in last Saturday’s cup feature over 1600m.

“The shorter distance (1300m) was a bit of a query today but he handled it well,” Oakford said.

Clarke is reluctant to take It’s Black Magic to Alice Springs for the carnival in a month’s time.

“There is a touch of class about him but I think he will be staying in Darwin,” Clarke said.