DAZZA'S DARWIN DIARY - MY SOJOURN TO THE TOP END

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, August 10, 2017

DAZZA’S DARWIN DIARY

Well you always hear about Carnivals ... the Melbourne Cup Carnival / the Sydney Carnival featuring the Golden Slipper and the Championships / the Brisbane Winter Carnival and then there are the country ones like the Grafton Carnival and the Birdsville Races ... all of which have their own notoriety for different reasons.

I have watched and heard much about the Darwin Carnival featuring the Darwin Cup run as the last race on the program on the first Monday of August each year and this year I was fortunate to get the opportunity to travel to the Northern Territory to experience what I would consider a unique Carnival of racing.

Prior to my visit, not only had I not witnessed sand track racing, but I had also not experienced racing in a season known as the “dry season."

My research suggested that I would be in for some glorious weather – I was to wear some light clothes and then noted some final words of wisdom – make sure you drink plenty!

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Well I just jumped on a plane. I passed all the security screening points and avoided the man with the bomb residue testing wand as I went about boarding my flight.

So I am all set, just having to contend with an overnight flight to Darwin arriving at 1.00am.

I dressed warm ... with some warm clothing and a jacket.

On exiting the airport I was struck by a gust of warm air and sweat appeared on my brow. It was time to get nude, well not as such, but to get rid of some layers of clothing.

Later that day I went to the Fannie Bay race course, home of the Darwin Turf Club.

I met the lovely administrators, introduced myself and then stumbled across the CEO of the Club Keith Stacy.

He extended his hand and made me feel welcome from the word go. I got my media accreditation and I was all set for the Darwin Racing Carnival – themed in 2017 the “Carnival of Colour”.

I venture out trackside to see the surface. It looks good, well to someone who has never seen it up close prior, only watching the racing on TV.

I was pleased to be there, to be part of it all and to help promote the carnival because, you see, horse racing is important to the Northern Territory economy – not only for the financial rewards gained through the gambling but for the work that it provides to thousands of people across the Territory.

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I am all set – Day 1 for me is Saturday 5 August – featuring the Bet365 Palmerston Sprint.

This is a seven race program for me to photograph and to help ease me into it and to find my way before the main event – the Carlton Mid Darwin Cup 2017 to be held on Monday 7 August.

As the day goes on Winno has his normal attire, dress trousers, a collared shirt and a tie.

Big mistake the tie has to go! But as I turned up with it I get through the day, learning as I go where to stand, who to meet and chat to ... and all the time planning for the Grand Final on Saturday the Palmerston Sprint.

The whole time the staff are so welcoming, friendly, and only too happy to assist and the bookies are keen to let me have a bet on the locals as well as racing back in Brisbane.

I get through Saturday where I watch the ex-Queensland jockey Raymond Vigar win the Palmerston Sprint aboard the locally trained Niccoco.

Gary Lefoe puts the polish on this one and the mail beforehand was that it was down in weight, has some speed and is well placed.

It wins well.

The team from Sky Channel are here supporting the Carnival – Greg Radley, Ron Dufficy and Glenn Munsie.

But this year there is an addition, a new dimension to the Carnival our own Queensland commentator and Sky Racing personality Bernadette Cooper is present to conduct post-race interviews live from the track!

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Sunday comes around and I hear there is a tourist attraction in town where you can hold a crocodile and if they have some spare spots you can jump in the “Cage of Death” with a monster of the marshes ... a massive saltwater crocodile that lurks around a special cage where you can get up close and personal with these massive beasts.

I wanted to go face to face with one of these monsters, however, the sessions were booked out so I had to settle on holding a smaller, cuter version and then feeding a few of them in a tank.

The day was exciting and I learnt so much about these reptiles at the Crocosaurus Cove in the centre of Darwin.

I know this is just a tourist attraction and nothing like an encounter in the wild – but seeing them devour food and chomp with over 3 tonnes of force truly gives you an appreciation of why you should stay away from their territory in the wild.

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On my wanders around town I hear that there is a Calcutta to be held on the Darwin Cup. This will start at 6pm at the Darwin RSL.

I venture to the venue to see how much interest there is in Darwin in a Calcutta.

The locals tell me that it is fierce and the pools are massive. There is talk of a pool of $70,000.

I buy a book of tickets with my crew that are with me. We hope we draw a horse in the Calcutta. Alas we missed out, but we were entertained by “Miracle Malcolm Johnston” who reminds us of his 56 suspensions when he was riding.

A comical night culminating in a pool of around $73,000 for the Calcutta with the early favourite Billet Doux being sold for $14,000 – quite impressive!

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Monday morning arrives.

The sun is blazing in the sky at 7.00am. It looks like it is going to be a scorcher.

I decide today, no tie. I review my form and tips and see a number of jockeys from all around Australia have made their way to Darwin for the 2017 Darwin Cup meeting.

Some of the big names here – Blake Shinn and William Pike to name a few.

I manage to catch up with William Pike for a quick chat at the track. He tells me “look at the occasion – so many people here it is wonderful.”

I then asked him about his winning ride on the Michael Hickmott trained Arrow Lane in the third race ."it was a nice run," Pike said, "but I missed the start and he chased the whole way. He was like a bulldog the whole way up the straight.”

Meanwhile ex-local jockey Koby Jennings told me about how he only came to Darwin for a holiday and ended up with four rides on Darwin Cup day.

He recalled “I was apprentice to Stephen Brown here at Darwin and worked hard at the track.”

Whilst he didn’t ride a winner on the program, he was gave all his rides great runs.

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Amongst the personalities on track for the Carnival was the legendary AFL player Robert DiPierdomenico or “Dippa” – who was with the Group 1 Red team on tour with Richard Laming stables from Cranbourne.

They tasted success in the last race on Saturday with Poysed and then had Folk Tales, an emergency in the Darwin Cup who did not make the field, end up winning race 7 on Cup Day.

Folk Tales was ridden by Blake Shinn who had a treble on the day.

Dippa said: “How good is this place and ... look at the crowd it is amazing” then he hammed it up for a few victory photos!

I taught him how to kiss the trophy – just saying!

He was with the racing syndicate part owner Shaun Wallace who said after the win of Folk Tales: “It was disappointing not to be in the Cup today but we got a consolation prize with Blake Shinn riding our winner.

"He is the best rider in the country. He rode the horse a treat”

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I know that the women enjoy reading my tips and my articles so I venture to somewhere I have never gone before!

I decide to photograph “2017 Fashions on the Field” Darwin Cup style.

The competition is fierce – the makeup, the fascinators, the dresses, the accessories and the shoes! I have learnt a lot over two hours of judging and commentary!

The eventual winner is announced as Brooke Prince - a local winner!

I get some lovely photos of her and the fashion she has been recognised for. Now I have my tape recorder in my hand. No one is around what should I do?

Okay here goes nothing. I walk up to Brooke and say, “Hi I am Darren Winningham from horseracingonly.com.au. I come from Brisbane ... would you mind answering some questions for me?”

So far so good – I look professional. I appear to know what I am talking about!

Brooke to my amazement starts to tell me about her outfit. “I have been planning my outfit for the past two months now,” Brooke says. “My outfit was made locally by Ludmilla. I then showed the dress to my milliner – Peacock Millinery - to make me something amazing. My other bits and pieces, my bag and shoes were just coincidentally picked up to match the colours of my dress”.

The lovely winner for 2017 will represent the Northern Territory at the Emirates Melbourne Cup for 2017 in the fashions down there as well – plus, as a surprise to the winner, a $3600 custom bangle was presented to her.

Brooke said: “I am so excited and so thrilled to be able to represent Darwin.

"We have done really well in Melbourne in recent years with people like Christine Spielmann (2014 fashions on the field winner – Melbourne Cup) and Chloe Moo (2013 fashions on the field winner – Melbourne Cup).

“I am really excited to represent the Territory this year.”

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The big race is fast approaching – Blake Shinn is having a field day – he has ridden three winners on the program already, two for his good friend Neil Dyer from Kyneton.

One of those winners was in the second race the Yellowgreen “Montgomerie” Lightning Plate. This race is named after the late Simone Montgomerie, who was tragically killed in a track accident at the Darwin Cup meeting in 2013.

In a wonderful gesture to commemorate her riding achievements in the Northern Territory the Darwin Turf Club named the underpass from the grandstand and public areas to the centre of the track in Simone's honour on Saturday.

It was opened by NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Simone’s family.

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My last engagement of the day was to chase down the CEO of the Darwin Turf Club.

I just want to say how amazing it was to see him behind the scenes on Friday moving furniture, setting things up and leading his team. Then the dramatic change to a shirt and tie and even with the Darwin Cup upon us he took the time out for Winno.

My question was ... what would you like to say about the Carnival?

He responded with, “It has been absolutely fantastic – the crowd has been sensational and the support from the locals, here in Darwin and throughout the Northern Territory, and also the interstate people who have come here in their droves has been amazing.

“Where else would you want to spend Winter?”

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Then the big event was run and won.

The 2017 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup went to Royal Request ridden a treat by Jarrod Todd and trained by Neil Dyer who is based at Kyneton.

This was Neil’s third winner on the nine race program – a pretty astonishing effort to relocate a team of horses from Melbourne and achieve such a great result.

I managed to grab a few words with both of them after the wonderful victory.

Jarrod was surrounded by his family and was overwhelmed with the win telling me, “I knew I was on the best horse. He had proven that in the lead up races.

"He probably deserved the big weight considering the way he has been winning, but he still has to carry it and win.

“For a horse who gets back and needs to come late, you need some luck. He is a true legend of the turf up here.

“It was just an unbelievable feeling. I just sat back and let it all unfold and around the 700 metre mark I had to make a choice and I must admit when I went I thought it may be the wrong choice.”

Prior to the race Jarrod had discussed the tactics with trainer Neil Dyer and said, “I just want to leave him alone and have one uninterrupted run. I didn’t want to be stop and starting.

“At a vital stage I had to go back to the fence, which I really didn’t want to do, but the runs kept opening up there and he was too good for them!”

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Neil Dyer was a little hoarse after cheering his horse home but managed a few words telling me, “He had won the lead up races, the Metric Mile and then the Chief Ministers race, which are both good lead up races.

"I was confident but nervous about his chances today.”

Dyer was full of praise for his jockey Jarrod Todd saying: “He has won a number of races on the horse. I told him not to change anything – just ride him like you normally ride him.”

He joked at the end when I asked him at what point did you think you had the race in the bag?

“To be honest I was really quiet throughout the race until about half way down the straight when I saw my horse go away from them!”

After that ... well like I said, Neil was hoarse!

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I can honestly say this Carnival was an eye opener.

First and foremost, you are made feel so welcome. Add in the support events, with the Ball at the Casino under the wonderful starlit night and the Calcutta at the RSL, and then top it off with the experience of the excitement of the racing action at Fannie Bay and, well ... it all makes me want to pack my bags and head back in 2018.

This is an event that people should take the time to research and then book their place.

It is truly a special event for a horse racing enthusiast.

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