Darwin Turf Club boss closes the book

DARWIN Turf Club chief executive Philip Neck will have his final day in the position tomorrow.

Philip Neck (pictured here with Bushcraft) finishes up tomorrow as chief executive of the Darwin Turf Club. Picture: Elise Derwin

DARWIN Turf Club chief executive Philip Neck will have his final day in the position tomorrow.

The 66-year-old closes the book on a three-year stint in Territory horse racing's highest-profile role and will look back fondly on his time in the Top End.

"I've enjoyed my time in Darwin and walk away pleased there has been a fair bit done to improve a number of the facilities at Fannie Bay," Neck said.

"The new stable block, mounting enclosure and the installation of the plastic running rail have helped improve the place.

"From a business point of view, the club is fiscally in a strong position and on the right path.

"I've been able to make a number of good friends here and look forward to coming back to the carnival in the future as a visitor."

Brett Dixon, chairman of the DTC, acknowledged Neck's contribution since his arrival in November 2010.

"Philip joined us after Des Friedrich, who was a bit of a trailblazer during his seven years, to help consolidate the business and he has done a good job during his tenure," Dixon said.

The club is set to appoint an interim chief executive, understood to be current chief operating officer Keith Stacy, until the position is nationally advertised in the New Year.

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VIV Oldfield has had many big days during a long career in horse racing, but Saturday may well take the cake.

Oldfield, known as a trainer and owner in the Territory, has a share in two horses tackling the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

He bred Prince Harada, who is also part-owned by noted Territory businessmen John 'Foxy' Robinson and Mick Burns.

Oldfield is also a part-owner of Shamus Award with Ultra Tune supremo Sean Buckley, who will look to break his maiden status in the Group 1 three-year-old feature race.

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TWO men sporting the broadest smiles at Fannie Bay last Saturday were Greg Aldam and David Sharp.

Sharp and Aldam were commissioned by the Darwin Turf Club to source the lots for the Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale in August and did a sterling job with 16 lots.

Eight weeks on and the impact of the sale is being felt in a positive way.

Unlucky and Enchanted Boy made winning debuts at the Bay to join Dash About as sale graduates to already taste success.

The early numbers are promising with 10 of the 16 graduates having already had one start in Darwin.

Between them, those 10 horses have had 22 starts for three wins, three seconds, five thirds and two fourths, earning $41,715 along the way.

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LAST Saturday proved a big one for some members of the Banks Bulldogs Australian Football Club.

The Bulldogs opened the new NTFL season with wins in the Division 1 and Division 2 grades over Tracy Village.

Around the same time, Black Fusion, who is owned by a number of members of the club, made a winning debut in Darwin.

There was a sizeable crew of owners on hand to watch the former Victorian score a breakthrough win in the opening maiden race.

Trained by Stephen Brown, Black Fusion looks a horse with promise and boasts a profile that suggests he could develop into a St Patrick's Cup horse in March 2014.

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FANNIE Bay will host a five-race card on Saturday.

A total of 37 nominations have been received, a figure which is slightly lower than recent weeks and impacted by the fact it is the second of four straight Saturday meetings across October.

The feature event on the card is the $14,000 Benchmark 82 Handicap (1100m) with Dreaming Of Nepal and No Means Go the equal top-weights with 60.5kg. Acceptances are out today.

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YOU certainly will not see an easier win this year than the romp produced by Best A Man Can Get at Pioneer Park last Sunday.

Up against a field of three moderate rivals, the son of Mujawaajid never got out of second gear and strolled in by 13 and a half lengths.

The $1.30 odds on TattsBet were more than generous considering the easy win.

Despite the romp, he is not among the nominations for Sunday's five-race meeting at Pioneer Park.

Horse numbers in Alice Springs continue to be healthy with 46 nominations received ahead of acceptance time today.

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THERE is a strong Territory flavour permeating through Saturday's Adelaide race meeting at Morphettville.

Seven horses boasting trainers, owners or both are in action including Dieselfuel, who has headed south from Alice Springs for the opening race.

Chieftain Jack, who ran a good third last week after 10 months out, is contesting a $30,000 Rating 78 race, while Nigel Moody is shooting for back-to-back city wins with Heart Of Eternity.

Others include Tuscan Breeze for Stephen Brown and St Gabriel.

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FINALLY, I would just like to say this is my final edition of Racing Around.

I would like to thank all the readers of this column throughout my two stints spanning six years working with the NT News and Sunday Territorian.

Hopefully this column will continue in some shape or form in the future with my successor Doug Booth, who starts later in the month.

Always remember, Back a winner.