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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.

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"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.

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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
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