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.

Advertisement

"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...
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.