SPORT llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ntnews.com.au McDonald puts Vics in control Shaw a leader at Magpies LA players dominate All-Stars WILY medium-pacer Andrew McDonald rolled South was yesterday a surprise inclusion in CLIPPERS pair Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been Australia’s king pins as seized complete Collingwood’s leadership group — voted in by voted to start the NBA All-Star game, joining Lakers control of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide teammates who have forgiven his part in a betting duo Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Oklahoma City’s yesterday. The Redbacks wobbled to 9-215 at scandal. ‘‘I’ve been to the dark side and back,’’ Shaw Kevin Durant kept the West from being an entire Los stumps on the second day, some 222 runs behind said. ‘‘So hopefully the mistakes I’ve made can help Angeles story by earning a forward spot for the Victoria’s first innings. Victorian bowlers McDonald, the guys coming through — guide them in the right February 26 game in Orlando. Griffin and Bynum are Jon Holland, Scot Boland and Alex Keath all took two direction.’’ Nick Maxwell retains the captaincy, with first-time starters, while Bryant earned his 14th wickets. But it was McDonald (2-39) who caused a vice. , , consecutive nod. Dwight Howard, of Orlando Magic, Redbacks collapse in which the home side lost 4-61. Harry O’Brien and are the other leaders. was the leading vote-getter with 1.6 million. Caviar’s Bolton to hit high note change

By GREGOR MACTAGGART make use of drawing barrier of scene one in the $100,000 race, REGARDLESS of how he which has been weakened by BLACK Caviar is likely to fares at Caulfield today, yesterday’s scratching of be put to the ultimate test — Darwin galloper Bolton will highly-fancied The Big Steel and perhaps the ultimate not be heading to the due to muscle soreness. risk — in Dubai next month. Mornington Cup. Brown will also saddle up The goal of a $2 million The last-start Flemington quality sprinter Canali in the race run on a foreign sur- winner is tackling the Listed Listed United Arab Emirates face at the world’s richest Reaan Plate (2000m) — a race Stakes (1000m). meeting appeared on the regarded as the prelude to the Canali was last night rated menu yesterday when the $300,000 Cup (2400m) on an $11 chance with TattsBet unbeaten champion’s ow- PUB: February 15. for the $100,000 event, with ners plotted her internat- But even if he salutes this most speed maps having him ional campaign over lunch afternoon, trainer Stephen going with Definitely Ready with trainer Peter Moody.

TNEWS NT Brown explained there was in the lead. The $2 million Golden one good reason why Bolton But Brown says Canali has Shaheen, run over 1200m on will skip a trip down the developed versatility, point- the all-weather Tupeta sur- Peninsula. ing to his December 3 win at face at the Dubai World Cup ‘‘I don’t think he can get a Caulfield as evidence. meeting on March 31, is strong 2400m,’’ Brown said. ‘‘It is a pretty slippery field firmly on the agenda, en The Top End horseman is with a lot of early pace,’’ route to Royal Ascot in the

DATE: more optimistic about the Brown said. first week of June. five-year-old making his ‘‘He showed when he won Artificial surfaces have presence felt in his first crack that he does not need to go brought some turf-honed at 10 furlongs today. hard early and is a more Australian champions un- ‘‘This is a good, even race, versatile horse than his stuck overseas — Starcraft 4-FEB-2012 there are no champions and it younger days.’’ and So You Think were un- looks a winnable race for Brown added he was look- placed on dirt in the US — him,’’ Brown said. ing forward to teaming up but Moody said the Tupeta ‘‘The thought was when we with champion Alice Springs surface did not concern him. bought him he was a sprinter- jockey Steven Arnold. He said the prospect of a miler, but when I had him in ‘‘I’d been promising him a Dubai stop-over ‘‘had gone Darwin I thought he could ride for a while and he’s from 10 per cent to 50-50’’.

PAGE: handle 2000m. pretty happy to be on ‘‘Everything’s on the table ‘‘He’s pulled up nicely from Canali,’’ Brown said. at the moment, including his last win, he’s going good Arnold has built a reputat- Dubai,’’ he said. and I couldn’t be happier ion as a top jockey on fast Black Caviar is unbeaten

52 with him.’’ horses, having partnered the in 17 starts, with Moody des- Nick Hall continues his likes of Iglesia, Bomber Bill, perate to chase down US winning association with Toledo, Undue and Scenic champion Zenyatta’s mod- COLOR: Bolton, who Brown expects to Blast during his career. Darwin galloper Bolton will race in the Listed Reaan Plate (2000m) at Caulfield today ern day record of 20.

C Duo vie for winning edge M By GREGOR MACTAGGART Stronger may come from a

Y familiar source in stablemate

K JOCKEYS Scott Hillebrand and Kingsford, while Gary Clarke Cara Angel will be hoping it’s a has given emerging dasher case of quantity and quality at Timely Exit his shot against Fannie Bay today. better opposition. Both have full books of rides on Scott Hillebrand Cara Angel Angel, who later this month the five-race card, starting Speaking from Melbourne yes- heads to Qatar for an internat- from 3.39pm. terday, Brown expects the six- ional apprentice series, is in hot Hillebrand, who leads the year-old Stravinsky gelding to be demand due to her 3kg claim. riding premiership with 14 more than competitive. She has rides for Mark Nyhan, winners, has spread himself wide ‘‘He loves it in Darwin, that was Julie Robinson and her boss with mounts for Stephen Brown, a good effort by him to win last David Bates. SPECIAL NT Chris Pollard and Alwyn time out after coming back from Colonel Jack looks well-placed Trengrove. South Australia,’’ Brown said. with her claim in the day’s final TICKET OFFER The best appears to be the pro- ‘‘I never should have taken him race, the Sportingbet Handicap $55 ADULTS gressive Faster Stronger, aiming down (to SA) — he is one of those (1200m). V $35 CHILD U16 for back-to-back wins when he horses that has enjoyed his sur- In great news for the health of $50 CONCESSIONS contests the $13,200 Sid Parker roundings ever since he arrived the Top End riding ranks, 12 $145 FAMILY OAM Benchmark 72 Handicap at the stable.’’ jockeys have mounts on today’s (1300m). The greatest threat to Faster program. INCLUDES GRANDSTAND TICKET, BRUMBIES DATE 4 Feb 2012 MEMBERSHIP AND TIME Main Game 7pm MEMBERSHIP PACK VENUE Rugby Park, Marrara NT Territory raid on Morphettville turf

SHARE THE PASSION WITH THE BRUMBIES ADELAIDE had better brace for a prentice Nathan Rose replaced by cap (1600m) — a race also AS THEY TAKE ON THE WESTERN FORCE IN Northern Territory invasion at senior jockey Jason Holder. featuring General Mazeratti and Morphettville today. Right Fong, a multiple Listed High Finance. THE TERRITORY CUP. A raft of Territory trained and winner during his career, General Mazeratti, who ran Tickets available from Darwin Entertainment Centre owned gallopers are in action, drops back heavily in grade from fifth in the 2011 Darwin Cup, has and keen to take some cash from his last three appearances his first start for David Balfour

online at darwinentertainment.com.au Z00 47113 the City of Churches. in Victoria. and will be ridden by his GENERAL ADMISSION: $20 ADULT, $10 CONCESSION, $5 CHILD, $45 FAMILY. Reigning NT Horse of the Year Last-start winner I Am Magic apprentice Scott Westover. Blackbriar and Right Fong come headlines two runners for Other horses with NT links up against one another in the Darwin trainer Kerry Petrick. are Ishiever (R3, No. 11), Indeed I $50,000 Rain Lover Plate (1800m). The five-year-old is rated one Am (R6, No. 5) and Immortality Blackbriar will have to carry of the fancies in the $34,000 (R7, No. 2). his full 58kg top-weight with ap- Camms Risk Management Handi- — GREGOR MACTAGGART

52 NT NEWS. Saturday, February 4, 2012. www.ntnews.com.au