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• Darwin Turf Club: 03/08/2026

Darwin Turf Club: 03/08/2026

Weather: Fine Track: Good Rail: True

Stewards: J Zucal (Chairman), R Hamilton, R Shiers, S Jerrard (RWWA)

Deputy Stewards: C Streat, E Baird

Clerk of Scales: B Huppatz

Judge/Assistant: G Middleton, D Garnham

Veterinary: Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic & Dr. K Kiely (RWWA Veterinarian)

Number of Races: 10

Number of Runners: 104

Stakes Paid: $558,500

 

Following changes to Sky Racing scheduling, the starting times of the following races were

updated:

Race 4: Rescheduled to commence at 1.44pm.

Race 7: Rescheduled to commence at 3.35pm.

Race 8: Rescheduled to commence at 4.15pm.

 

General

All acceptors for the Great Northern Darwin Cup were subject to a veterinary examination on Friday 31 July 2026, and blood samples were collected for the purpose of out of competition testing.

The following horses were re-handicapped following their wins on Saturday 1 August 2026.

Race 2: TEXTURE - 62kgs (2kgs)

Race 7: TELLEZ - 58.5kgs (2kgs)

 

Race 1: Airmaster Handicap 0-70 – 1200m

RIVKIN (P Shiers) – Returned having bled from one nostril. Trainer advised the gelding is required to satisfactorily gallop prior to racing again.

STARZAM (J Todd) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Slow to begin.

LUCKY FORTUNA (K Crowther) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Lay outwards rounding the home turn into the straight.

1^ST RIVKIN 2^ND CONVINCEBILITY 3^RD LUCKY FORTUNA

 

Race 2: Ladbrokes TROBIS Handicap 0-58 – 1200m

Stewards interviewed trainer P Cole in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

SOUTHAMPTON FLARE (J Lyon) – Taken back, across and behind runners after the start from a wide barrier.

ANECDOTAL (J Doyle) – Raced wide throughout.

FUNNYIFITWON (D Gillett) – Commenced awkwardly.

IN NO DOUBT (J Bowditch) – Raced wide throughout.

TEXTURE (J Hampson) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start.

BIT TIRED ACTUALLY (J Booth) – Shifted behind runners after the start from a wide barrier.

SI SENORA (R Bensley) – Slow into stride and ridden vigorously through the early stages to obtain a forward position.

1^ST TEXTURE 2^ND FIELD OF PRAISE 3^RD YAKI ISHI

 

Race 3: Bladin Village Handicap 0-66 – 1100m

PATRIOTIC KING (J Booth) – Slow into stride and crowded shortly after.

LITTLEBOURKESTREET (D Barton) – Raced wide throughout.

MIAMI VICE (W Davis) – Shifted outwards on jumping.

MISS BOOM (I Luximon) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start.

1^ST CAVERN 2^ND LITTLEBOURKESTREET 3^RD DOWN THE WICKET

 

Race 4: Simone Montgomerie Lightning Plate – 1000m

Stewards interviewed trainer G Clarke in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

ARIZONA ACTIVIST (J Lyon) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start.

RISING SPHERE (Z Spain) – Raced wide throughout.

REWARDS AND MORE (S Tsaikos) – Raced in restricted room between the 600m and 400m.

ZING TO WIN (J Doyle) – Slow to begin.

1^ST ARIZONA ACTIVIST 2^ND REWARDS AND MORE 3^RD RISING SPHERE

 

Race 5: TAB Handicap 0-58 – 1600m

Stewards interviewed trainer K Petrick in relation to the riding instructions she intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

BIDEN TIME (J Todd) – Ridden vigorously through the early stages to obtain the lead near the 1400m. Rider advised he was obliged to ride forward through the early stages to avoid settling wide and in his opinion, this may have contributed to the gelding not finishing the race off strongly.

MERIMBULA (A Sweeney) – Slow to begin.

RAMPAZETTO (B Cray) – Returned having cast both near-side plates.

FABERGE TZAR (J Bowditch) – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding returned lame in the near-fore, vet certificate required prior to racing again.

AGGRESSIVE (R Dolan) – Raced wide for the majority.

ANPHINA (P Shiers) – Shifted outwards near the 200m to continue into clear running before being blocked from the 100m.

KIEFFER (I Luximon) – Raced wide throughout.

An objection lodged by the rider of the 5^th placed ANPHINA (P Shiers) against the 3^rd placed MERIMBULA (A Sweeney) alleging interference between the 200m and 100m was dismissed. When dismissing the protest stewards were of the opinion that although ANPHINA had been disappointed for clear running at that stage, FABERGE TZAR (J Bowditch) had been a contributing factor by laying outwards when clear of ANPHINA prior to this incident therefore dictating ANPHINA outwards when that gelding was improving, resulting in ANPHINA then being disappointed behind the heels of MERIMBULA which had also lay inwards marginally.

1^ST THE ACCELATOR 2^ND GRINZINGER TUNDRA 3^RD MERIMBULA

 

Race 6: DCOH Handicap BMNT – 1600m

Stewards interviewed trainer G Clarke in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

STORMFRONT (J Todd) – Raced wide through the early stages.

ALPINE FLYER (I Luximon) – Slow to begin.

CROWN WATERS (R Bensley) – Over-raced through the early and middle stages.

ICHIBAN (J Lyon) – Following the race the gelding shied, dislodging the rider who took an apparent harmless fall. The gelding was captured shortly after and underwent a veterinary examination which revealed no abnormalities.

ROSSANADO (P Shiers) – Following the race the gelding shied dislodging the rider who took an apparent harmless fall. The mare was captured shortly after and underwent a veterinary examination which revealed no abnormalities.

WINE BARRON (D Moor) – Raced wide through the early stages.

PRINCESS PANCAKES (S Tsaikos) – Unsettled in the barriers. Slow into stride. Raced wide throughout.

Following this race ICHIBAN (J Lyon) and ROSSANADO (P Shiers) shied simultaneously near the 1400m with both riders being dislodged. Both riders returned to scale and were able to weigh in. Subsequently both riders were examined by the St Johns para-medical officers and deemed suitable to fulfil their remaining riding engagements. Both horses were captured shortly after and underwent a veterinary examination which revealed no significant abnormalities.

1^ST HETTINGER 2^ND ROSSANADO 3^RD CROWN WATERS

 

Race 7: Magic Millions Top End Classic BMNT – 1300m

Stewards interviewed trainer K Petrick in relation to the riding instructions she intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

MARGARTEN (J Hampson) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Slow to begin.

HEBEL (D Gillett) – Commenced awkwardly.

THROW AT DA STUMPS (A Sweeney) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Lay outwards passing the 800m.

TELLEZ (R Dolan) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Returned having cast the off-hind plate.

ITWASONLYAKISS (J Todd) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start.

1^ST MONTJUIC MAGIC 2^ND TELLEZ 3^RD HEBEL

 

Race 8: Schweppes Handicap 0-62 – 1300m

STOMP’EM (J Doyle) – Raced wide for the majority.

BRAZEN BON (V Arnott) – Slow to begin and ridden along through the early stages to obtain a position.

CRAZY BRAVE (D Barton) – Raced wide for the majority.

KESSLER (W Davis) – Raced wide throughout.

PIRATE (K Crowther) – Shifted outwards shortly after the start and contacted another runner.

RHESUS (J Bowditch) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start. Buffeted shortly after the start.

LAVEDER GLORY (H Le Blanc) – Slow to begin.

Jockey V Arnott (BRAZEN BON) was interviewed and shown vision regarding the use of the whip and whether she had breached the conditions of AR132(7)(a)(ii). Jockey Arnott stated that the majority of her use of the whip was a waving motion and in her opinion, she was not in breach. As stewards could not be fully satisfied that Jockey Arnott was making contact to her mount she was strongly advised that she should modify her action to avoid being subjected to such questioning in future.

1^ST IF I WAS YOU 2^ND BRAZEN BON 3^RD STOMP’EM

 

Race 9: Dabble – You Better Believe It Handicap 0-70 – 2050m

Stewards interviewed trainer G Clarke in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

MALDINI (P Shiers) – Raced keenly through the early stages.

VANGUARD LEGEND (J Lyon) – Shifted inwards on jumping and contacted another runner.

CRAZY TOWN (R Bensley) – Commenced awkwardly.

BOLLON (J Todd) – Rider reported the gelding lay outwards throughout. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.

GRINZINGER BISHOP (J Hampson) – Due to competing on Saturday 1/8/26, underwent a veterinary examination on arrival to the course and declared suitable to start.

KING AKEED (Z Spain) – Buffeted between runners shortly after the start. Raced wide throughout.

TENNESSEE WHISKEY (S Tsaikos) – Bumped on jumping. Raced wide throughout.

1^ST MALDINI 2^ND HOTIM ENGLISH 3^RD UNQUESTIONABLY

 

Race 10: Great Northern Darwin Cup – 2050m

Stewards interviewed trainer M Hickmott in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.

CASINO SEVENTEEN (J Lyon) – A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

STORMAGEDDON (J Bowditch) – Slow to begin.

VENTING (A Sweeney) – Raced fiercely through the early stages, proving very difficult to settle and obliged to race wide as a result.

JIMI HENDRIX (D Moor) – Slow into stride.

KOMACHI (K Crowther) – Raced ungenerously through the early stages throwing its head on a number of occasions before allowed to stride forward near the 1400m in an attempt to settle the gelding and raced wide thereafter.

LEVERAGED BUYOUT (J Hampson) – Commenced awkwardly.

1^ST WATADEEL 2^ND REMATCH 3^RD HADOUKEN 4^TH KOMACHI

 

General:

All riders were subject to alcohol breath testing.

Post-race swab samples taken from all winners and REMATCH (R10) & HADOUKEN (R10).

Pre-race samples were taken from: THE FINAL WORD, FRAWLEY, PATRIOTIC KING, ARIZONA ACTIVIST, SASS, MAGARTEN, HEBEL, LIMITED RISK & all runners engaged in Race 10.

Reprimands: Nil

Suspensions: Nil

Fines:

Race 7 – Apprentice Jockey L Maloney was fined $200 for a whip breach, AR132(7)(a)(ii).

Embargoes & Warnings:

Race 1 – RIVKIN – Bled one nostril, satisfactory gallop required prior to racing again.

Race 5 – FABERGE TZAR - Lame in the near-fore, vet certificate required prior to racing again.

Medicals: Nil

 

J Zucal

Chairman of Stewards (Acting)