Gary Clarke-trained Big Chance wins race five at Fannie Bay

WITH four runners in the last race at Fannie Bay on Saturday afternoon, leading Darwin trainer Gary Clarke was always going to have his finger on the till.

Trainer Gary Clarke with a horse Grand Britannia who is running in the Colemans Printing Cup Day at Fannie Bay on Wednesday.

WITH four runners in the last race at Fannie Bay on Saturday afternoon, leading Darwin trainer Gary Clarke was always going to have his finger on the till.

That was the case when Big Chance, ridden by Scott Hillebrand, cruised to a two-lengths win.

The seven-year-old gelding appears to handle the wet conditions this time of year in the Top End perfectly.

Twelve months ago he won over 1300m on the track, his only win in five attempts last year.

The son of Octagonal belied his $13 starting price to win by two lengths from the highly fancied Group Hug (Carl Spry) with Warrego Melody (Richie Oakford) a further length and a quarter third.

“I did not think he was too far away,” Clarke said of Big Chance.

“He has shown he is a tough horse but he has taken two or three runs to get back to where he was.

“Big Chance is a nice horse but you just can’t go too early on him.”

Clarke admitted that the big weight (62kgs) carried by It’s Home (Brendon Davis) probably scuppered his chances on his second race back from a lengthy spell.

Alana Brown made it back-to-back wins in race four when Sell in May won in Darwin for the first time in three attempts.

The five-year-old mare stepped up to 1200 metres in style to win the Gardens Park Golf Links Handicap by three quarters of a length from Todabar (Stephen Ridler) with Commandperformance (Samantha Rowley) third.

Trainer of Sell in May, Chris Nash, said it had taken a while to get the mare fit but she had shown her quality in the race.

Sell in May made the early running down the back and on well into the home straight to claim the victory.