‘Naughty boy’ Sanblas, with jockey Sonja Wiseman, wins 2021 NT Derby for Heather Lehmann

THIS year’s $135,000 NT Derby winner was a “naughty” gelding who has had his issues away from the track.But Sanblas showed plenty of maturity to power home on the straight in an outside lane to take out Saturday’s annual classic over 2050m at Fannie Bay.

Sanblas wins the 2021 NT Derby for Heather Lehmann. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

THIS year’s $135,000 NT Derby winner was a “naughty” gelding who has had his issues away from the track.

But Sanblas showed plenty of maturity to power home on the straight in an outside lane to take out Saturday’s annual classic over 2050m at Fannie Bay.

It was a brilliant fairytale finish for the young stayer, mowing down the highly-fancied Casino Seventeen (trainer Garry Lefoe Jr, jockey Paul Shiers) late to win by almost a length.

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The $3.10 favourite Trident (Mark Nyhan, Jason Lyon) was 3 ½ lengths behind in third.

“He’s only had five starts, and he can be a little naughty and a handful at times, so I suggested to (part-owner) Peter Jolly ‘why don’t we bring him up to Darwin for the Carnival? Sometimes these long trips can be good’,” winning trainer Heather Lehmann said.

“Sometimes they can change a horse.

“He was really good first-up in Darwin (finishing second in the $21,000 Home Straight Marquee TROBIS Handicap over 1300m on June 19) so we thought we’d have a go at this race.”

Despite the highly impressive performance in a lucrative stayers’ race, Lehmann indicated she will look to manage Sanblas’ workload instead of entering him in the Darwin Cup on August 2.

“We’re not sure if we’ll look at the Darwin Cup after this – maybe next year,” she said.

“He’s usually a one-pacer but he settled nicely in this race.

“He has had some issues, but they’ve only been mental.

“But we’re very pleased with him.

“(On the track) he’s doing all the right things and he handled it well (on Saturday).”

Jockey Sonja Wiseman savours her victory on Sanblas after the 2021 NT Derby. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

Jockey Sonja Wiseman rang Lehmann looking for a ride, and Lehmann gave her Sanblas.

Wismean was not regretting that phone call last night.

“It’s the first time we’ve used Sonja in Darwin,” Lehmann said.

“She rode him beautifully and to our instructions.

“She rang me and asked if I had a ride for her, and she deserves the win.

“We needed a stable jockey.

Trainer Heather Lehmann was all smiles after her three-year-old Sanblas saluted in the 2021 NT Derby Picture: Caroline Camilleri

“We’ll see how the horse pulls up – there are still two weeks left in the Carnival.”

Lehmann also celebrated seven-year-old Rikibobby’s (jockey Sairyn Fawke) victory in the $25,000 Ladbrokes Handicap (1300m), which was race two on the card.

“He won first up at Adelaide River and this was a tough race for him, but Sairyn rode him well,” Lehmann said.

“We gave him a couple of runs in between, and now we’ll look at starting him on the Palmerston Sprint weekend (in two weeks).”