The first race meeting of the year at Fannie Bay to go ahead despite monsoon

THE first race meeting of the year at Fannie Bay is still scheduled to go ahead despite the torrential downpour.

Trainer Chris Pollard with jockey Felicia Bergstrand and horse Wicked Child

THE first race meeting of the year at Fannie Bay this afternoon is still scheduled to go ahead despite the torrential downpour.

Track workers have been busy rolling the oil-based dirt track on New Year’s Day morning but the heavy rain has already taken its toll.

The Jason Manning-trained pair of Atlas Rising and King Dejour, both of whom were to be ridden by Vanessa Arnott, have already been scratched - casualties of the wet track.

But, at this stage, there’s still plenty to excite the diehard racing fan.

Trainer Chris Pollard will saddle up a dozen horses from his stable of more than 30 for the first meeting of 2015 but all eyes should be on his first starter, Wicked Child, who runs in race three, the BMNT 54 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Apprentice jockey Felicia Bergstrand bought the horse for Pollard at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast a year ago.

It is the three-year-old gelding’s breeding and pedigree that will intrigue Top End racegoers today.

The son of Wicked Style out of a Rory’s Jester mare will be ridden by Bergstrand for the first time on the Darwin dirt.

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Wicked Child is the older half brother to Wicked Intent, who is favourite to win the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 10.

Wicked Intent suffered a setback last Saturday in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes when it had its colours lowered by Mishani Honcho, forcing TattsBet to ease its price to $4.80 in the wake of his first defeat.

“Wicked Child is just a nice horse. He has done nothing wrong,” Pollard told the NT News.

“He always picks things up and learns.”

Pollard is uncertain where to head with Wicked Child.

He prefers to see how the youngster goes at his first start.

“With these three-year-olds you just have to test them,” he said.

“As they get older they might make it. Guineas horses usually show themselves.”

Wicked Child faces a tough baptism in his first start, particularly from his own stable.

Significantly, BestIhaveeverhad will be ridden by leading Darwin jockey Brendon Davis while The Dynamo (Wayne Davis) is also having his first start.

The Soothsayer (Stephen Ridler) is Pollard’s fourth runner in the sprint.

Top trainer Gary Clarke will send out his own debutant in Ajmar, which was bred by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Carl Spry will be hoping to add to his winning training performance at the track last on board another first starter She’s a Butterfly.

And Philip Cole will be hoping for further improvement from Breathe Free (Samantha Rowley) who has been placed twice in his four starts, including an impressive second on December 13.