Champion Darwin trainer Gary Clarke has strong group of four geared up to take on 2020 Chief Minister’s Cup at Fannie Bay
A QUARTET of chances has champion Darwin trainer Gary Clarke well placed to take out the feature race-six $40,000 Asian United Food Service Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay
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A QUARTET of chances has champion Darwin trainer Gary Clarke well placed to take out the feature race-six $40,000 Asian United Food Service Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay.
Clarke will be keeping a close eye on all four runners as he gauges their potential ahead of next month’s Darwin Cup.
Among them are veteran miler Java, Darwin newcomer Live And Free, and the in-form Paghman, who makes a step up in class.
However, it is the talented four-year-old SavatoXL, with jockey Kim Gladwin on board, who Clarke believes will perhaps be his main chance in this race.
The four-year-old ran a gallant second in the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby (2000m) last year.
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“I’m a little blind about a couple of them so there may be a bit of a wait and hope but they’re all good chances for the race,” Clarke told the NT News.
“It’s Paghman’s first time up against this level of field and this is Live and Free’s first time on the track though his form suggests that he can a run a good race.
“Java is a pretty textbook horse and always puts himself in with a chance, and with the mile being one of his better distances he will be up there.
“But SavatoXL is probably my main chance out there. He’s done nothing wrong and is a tough horse.
“It will be less about him beating them and more about them beating him as he hits the ground running and is hard to shake off.”
The race contains a number of big-name local horses, including Angela Forster’s Alice Springs Cup winner Lotion.
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“The Chief Minister’s Cup has always been a great indicator for the Darwin Cup and is always a tough race to win as a result,” Clarke said.
“I’ll gauge how the four run on the weekend and use that to determine who goes to the Darwin Cup.
“But there will be eight other horses that are all a chance tomorrow as well.”
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