SUNDAY AUGUST 20 2017 SPORT 47 Winx in big late run gets the nod RAY THOMAS WINX produced one of the most memorable first-to-last victories Randwick has ever had to extend her unbeaten streak to 18 yesterday. The mighty mare only had a half-neck winning margin in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) but this will be go down as one of her greatest wins. Winx threw her head around in the stalls, causing a barrier attendant to hold on to the mare’s bridle to calm her just as the barriers opened. Hugh Bowman didn’t panic She came out four lengths when Winx blew start behind, setting up a dramatic, pressure-packed ride for racing, you have to expect it everyone on board the Winx from time to time,’’ Waller bandwagon. said. “But Hugh kept his cool Jockey Hugh Bowman and the mare was good enough didn’t panic, remained last and to overcome what happened at ArcticArctic SongSong addsadds toto Dyer’sDyer’s hothot runrun then let the great mare de- the start. scend on her rivals from the “It was a great win, memor- turn. able, particularly as Bob Ing- Jockey Wayne Kerford and Neil Dyer's horse Arctic Song cross the line yesterday during the NT News Handicap at Fannie Bay and inset, Amid the drama, Winx ham, who has been so good for Kerford gives the thumbs up on the way back to scales Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY broke her transmitter in the my career, sponsored the War- saddlecloth with Punting wick Stakes.’’ DAVID WHITE (Brendon Davis) mid race, Fresh from winning the “Running over 1600m tests Form clocking her final 600m Winx’s narrow winning Arctic Song (Wayne Kerford) Katherine Cup with him, but anything from 1200- at 31.88sec as she nailed her margin doesn’t belie the fact VICTORIAN trainer Neil covered plenty of ground. Mywordsaidthebird last 1400m is right up his alley.” stablemate Foxplay in the final the champion seems to have Dyer continues to win races at Woogie lost touch with his Saturday, Dyer indicated after Alice Springs-based strides. returned to racing as well as Fannie Bay. rivals turning for home as the race that his long term is to Kerford couldn’t fault Arctic Winx’s part-owner Debbie ever and there are no signs of Basking in the glory Arctic Song made his move. set Arctic Song for the Song, who was unplaced in his Kepitis broke down in tears her famous winning sequence following Royal Request’s He’s Our Woody ($1.70 Palmerston Sprint next year. three other starts in Darwin after the win, while trainer ending anytime soon. victory in the $200,000 fav), who jumped awkwardly, Dyer, who heads back to this campaign, and was happy Chris Waller said he was in She is breaking records as Carlton Mid Darwin Cup shows signs of vulnerability, Kyneton on Tuesday, also to praise Dyer. awe of the amazing effort. routinely as she discards her (2000m) on August 7, Dyer but Poet’s Choice ($31) held confirmed yesterday that he “It was a good win and “That was a pretty special chasing rivals. The super had cause for further firm. Arctic Song went on with will set up a Darwin stable in Arctic Song is a lovely horse,” win,’’ Waller said. “She has had mare’s career statistics have celebration yesterday. the job to seal victory in coming weeks with Craig Kerford said. “Credit to Neil, a good gallop anyway. been improved further with Arctic Song ($3.30), who comfortable style by just under Conron controlling the horse was well prepared “We had to get her to top yesterday’s win including: streeted Benchmark 73 three lengths. operations. and I just happened to be the speed today.” Winx recorded her 18th suc- opposition by nine lengths en He’s Our Woody, a popular Apart from the Darwin lucky passenger. Bowman, who seems im- cessive win to equal Ajax’s re- route to victory over 1300m on pick after finishing third Cup, Dyer also won the Chief “Life is pretty easy when pervious to pressure, was al- cord. The only horses to win Cup Day with Blake Shinn on behind Niccoco and Captain Minister’s Cup and Metric you have a ride like that, and most nonchalant after the race. more races in succession are board, took out the NT News Punch in the Palmerston Mile with Royal Request. although we were four wide at “Her win was pretty im- Black Caviar, unbeaten in 25 Handicap (1200m) against Sprint a fortnight ago, found a “He had to carry an extra one stage it ended up being a pressive,’’ he said. “It wasn’t a starts, and Gloaming and Des- 0-76 opposition. second wind to grab second 2ksg today, but it was an comfortable win.” big margin but she won pretty ert Gold, who both won 19 in a Sitting outside Kerry place. Mark Nyhan’s excellent win,” Dyer said. Arctic Song’s other win was easily.’’ row; and Petrick’s Poet's Choice Bedisguised (Felicia “He did live up to the first race on the opening Waller praised Bowman for She took her earnings past (Wayne Davis), David Bates’ Bergstrand), a clear last in the expectation today and at this day of the Cup Carnival on not cracking under the early $13 million and is closing in on He’s Our Woody (Zack Gibbs) back straight, produced a big stage he is on track for next July 8 with Raymond Vigar in pressure. Makybe Diva’s all-time prize- and Gary Clarke’s Woogie finish to seal third place. year’s Palmerston. the saddle. “These things happen in money record of $14.52m. Catchy just beaten but Jukebox on song Mio Dio dominates field in Spring Stakes surprise CATCHY got rolled and Juke- trainer Ciaron Maher, surged Brook Magic but Catchy MIO Dio stamped himself as starts for Clarken and claimed While Mio Dio was bril- box won but jockey Craig Will- late in the following race, the loomed rounding the turn. She one of Australia’s most im- the $100,000 Listed Golden liant, Lankan Rupee was a iams was full of praise for both Vain Stakes, to nail the Team looked set to win but found proved gallopers after causing Topaz at Swan Hill in June. shadow of his former self. after two key three-year-old Hayes longshot Plutocracy. Crown Witness too tenacious. an upset in yesterday’s First-up from a short let-up Despite jumping well from races at Caulfield yesterday. Catchy was terrific, Willi- While Catchy lunged and $120,000 Group 3 Spring Mio Dio settled back in the barrier one to lead, the five- Catchy, the brilliant winner ams said, “but just happened to missed, Jukebox lunged and Stakes at Morphettville. field and thrived on a solid time Group 1 winner and for- of last autumn’s Blue Diamond lose’’. “I’m disappointed to be won. Williams said he doubted The former Victorian, who speed before overpowering ri- mer Australian Horse of the Stakes, loomed to win the beaten because you always like he could run down the leaders spent time with the Ryan Bal- vals wide out on the track. Year was under pressure on Quezette Stakes but was un- to win but I’m not disap- but said he “really delivered’’ four stable, has been a revel- Smart local Lord Aspen straightening when Casino able to edge past race-fit and pointed in Catchy. She has and had come back “bigger and ation under the care of Will made good ground wide out at Wizard raced straight past him unbeaten Crown Witness. proven she has come back,’’ he stronger.’’ Clarken with the win his fifth his first run back from a break before being beaten. Jukebox, ruled out of the said. Maher said: “You love to see from just 11 starts since joining while Goodwood placegetter Clarken said Mio Dio, who Diamond on race-day by stew- Crown Witness flew the a three-year-old colt to return his stable in October. Casino Wizard was huge after jumped at $13 with bookmak- ards, against the judgment of gates to sit outside leader like that. He’s very exciting.’’ Mio Dio won his first three racing outside Lankan Rupee. ers, was thriving on racing. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.