breednet.com.au

Kiwi Bred Quinella in $200,000 Darwin Cup

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 1

The former Maher and Eustace trained Tavistock gelding Playoffs scored a dominant win in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2000m) on Monday beating Savabeel gelding Kaonic.

Trained by champion Northern Territory trainer Gary Clarke, Playoffs made a winning debut last start in the top end when taking out the $60,000 Chief Ministers Cup and kept up the good work to go and win his target race.

 

The win was an emotional one for Clarke, his wife Sharlene and their family as they tragically lost their son Guy late last year.

Playoffs, who is raced by a group including Colin McKenna, John O'Neill and his former trainer Ciaron Maher, ran a slick 2.03.57 to break the track record.

Playoffs is a more than handy horse that has the overall record of seven wins and six placings from 23 starts with prizemoney just shy of $500,000.

"I'm one relieved man, I can tell you that," Clarke said after the race.

"Ciaron contacted me ages ago and asked if I thought this horse was good enough to win the Darwin Cup - that was quite a while ago but there's been a plan in motion ever since.

"That horse is one tough horse."

Playoffs cruises home in the Darwin Cup.

Playoffs was a $230,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from the Cambridge Stud draft and is a half-brother to Group III placed Divine Power from unplaced Zabeel mare Lazaan, a daughter of triple Group I winning Encosta de Lago mare Lashed.

 

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Great Northern Darwin Cup 2050m

Fannie Bay Track: Good(3) Time: 2:03.57
1
Playoffs
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Lazaan (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: G Clarke Rdr: J R Todd 59.5
2
2.3
Kaonic
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Fast Love (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: N J Dyer Rdr: J Keating 54.5
3
3.8
Vallabar
- 7g Widden Valley (AUS) x Sure Paint (AUS) (Suresh (NZ))
Tnr: G Clarke Rdr: A Darmanin 54
4
4.0
Noir De Rue
- 8g Blackfriars (AUS) x Rue Des Reves (USA) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Jason Manning Rdr: Ms V Arnott 57.5
5
4.1
Gone Bye
- 6g Al Maher (AUS) x Gone Platinum (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: Emma Steel Rdr: A Nicholls 56.5
6
4.6
Our Destrier
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Royal Flirt (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: K Hann Rdr: S Tsaikos 54.5
7
6.9
Venting
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Vintage Strike (USA) (Smart Strike (CAN))
Tnr: Ms K Petrick Rdr: P Denton 54
8
7.4
Danon Roman
- 9g Deep Impact (JPN) x Immaculate Cat (USA) (Storm Cat (USA))
Tnr: Chris Nash Rdr: Dean Holland 54
9
10.1
Living The Dream
- 7g Artie Schiller (USA) x Dreamwinner (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Robert Gulberti Rdr: B Rawiller 61.5
10
12.5
Starouz
- 7g Zoustar (AUS) x Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Angela Forster Rdr: Sairyn Fawke 54
11
53.3
I Am The Fox
- 9g Foxwedge (AUS) x Tellora (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Halter Rdr: P Shiers 60
More Reading...
Proisir Winner at Rosehill
Former Kiwi galloper Amberite continues to make a good impression since joining the stable of Mornington trainer Matt Laurie, with the son of Proisir trekking north to Sydney to land the Prague Yearlings Selling Now Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Golden Path Wins Listed McKell Cup
Victorian raider Golden Path has made it back-to-back victories in Sydney with a dominant victory in the Listed W J Mckell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Old Marvel Vow And Declare Wins his Second Tattersall's Cup
Five years ago, the 3-year-old Vow And Declare won the Group III Tattersall's Cup over 3000m at Eagle Farm on the way to winning the Melbourne Cup and finishing second to Mer De Glace (JPN) in the Caulfield Cup.
Peachester Lodge Celebrate Stakes Success for Princess Rhaenys
In-form mare Princess Rhaenys scored a narrow victory in the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown (2143m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the well-related daughter of Iffraaj scored a richly-deserved maiden stakes success.
Two From Two for Dan Vegas
Exciting local three-year-old Dan Vegas added a second victory to his unbeaten record with another dominant front-running performance in Saturday’s Truweld Engineering 3YO (1400m) at Ruakaka.
Zarastro Wins G3 Tatts Healy Stakes
A two time stakes-winner at the end of last year, the Tony Gollan trained I Am Invincible gelding Zarastro has been performing a little below par this preparation, but bounced back to his brilliant best to post a career highlight win in the $200,000 Group III Tatts WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
GI Tiara Caps Amazing Season for Bella Nipotina
Pride of Dubai has two absolutely outstanding mares running for him this season and while Pride of Jenni has been off on a well earned break preparing for the spring, Bella Nipotina has been blazing a path to further G1 glory over the Brisbane Winter Carnival adding the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m) to her stellar CV at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Dundeel Filly Dazzles in Listed Oaklands Plate
The Listed SAJC Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday was won last year by Coco Sun, who went on to win the Group I SA Derby last month and this year’s winner Femminile also looks to be a quality filly to watch next season.
New SW Merchant Navy - Cottee Triumphs in Tattersall's Mile
The lightly raced Merchant Navy mare Cottee had been building up for a peak performance and was an emphatic winner of the Listed Tattersall's Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Debut Winner for D’Argento
Bowness Stud have a lot of faith in their gorgeous So You Think stallion D’Argento and he added a fourth winner to his tally at Newcastle on Saturday with an impressive debut victory for the Ryan and Alexiou trained gelding Bitten By Barry.