Might mare Desert Lass still firing in Alice Springs

[Wandering Eyes]

Darwin apprentice Emma Lines (left) and Alice Springs apprentice Dakota Gillett enjoyed success at Pioneer Park in the Red Centre on Sunday. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography

The remarkable Desert Lass, arguably Alice Springs’ most popular horse proved once again on Sunday that she is a force over 1400m.

Four weeks after finishing as runner-up in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) for the second straight year, the Carrol Hunter-trained seven-year-old mare proved too good in the Emmie Wehr Memorial BM76 Handicap.

It was her fifth win from 14 starts over 1400m, with the daughter of Rock Hero also managing six seconds and a third.

Desert Lass, with nine wins and 20 minor placings from 42 starts at Pioneer Park from 1000-2000m, won’t feature at Pioneer Park much longer, with Hunter confirming that retirement beckons at the end of the 2023–24 season.

Hunter plans to head north for the Darwin Cup Carnival scheduled for July–August before drawing the final curtain.

The mare saluted over 2050m for those who missed a start in the 2022 Darwin Cup for previous trainer Lisa Whittle before finishing sixth in last year’s Darwin Cup (2050m) for Hunter.

Jumping from the outside gate (nine) on Sunday, Darwin apprentice Emma Lines had Desert Lass ($7) sitting in fifth place as Befana ($61), Great Buy ($6), That’s Justified ($6), and Flying Yishu ($3.50 fav) – sitting four deep – held sway passing the 800m.

There were plenty of chances turning for home, but once leaving the fence, Desert Lass stormed up the middle of the track before overcoming Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle ($41) and Ray Viney’s in-form Kickatorp ($4) by a length and a half.

Fantasy Eagle (Ianish Luximon) was eighth at the 600m before finishing strongly along the rails and fellow backmarker Kickatorp (Jessie Philpot) was unlucky when forced four deep at the 400m, but Lines produced a super ride on the winner.

With Desert Lass assigned 60kg, Lines could claim 1.5kg and replaced regular rider Casey Hunter.

Dan Morgan’s $1.90 favourite Garrucha (Dakota Gillett) made it back-to-back wins and three wins from his past four starts when he toppled Savage’s Vanderland ($19) by 1.5 lengths after both had shared the early lead over 1100m (0-64) – Morgan’s Arrogant Miss ($9) was third.

Greg Connor’s $10 hope Delago Lad (Lek Maloney), who hadn’t won since September, shared the early lead with Whittle’s Il Don Cavallo ($6), who held the fence, over 1200m (BM54) before saluting by 0.8 lengths with Gardner’s Lamoree ($5.50 fav) third.

Gary Clarke’s $3.20 favourite Miracoli (Aaron Sweeney) was easily nine lengths adrift of the lead passing the 1100m before making it back to back wins by downing pacemakers – Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes ($4.20) and Paul Gardner’s Better Not Fuss ($21) – by 2.3 lengths over 1600m (0-64).

Gardner (19) leap-frogged Petrick (18.5) in the trainers’ premiership when $11 chance Hello Carol (Kyra Yuill) overcame a bout of inconsistency by finishing a length clear over 1100m (Class 2) from Connor’s stablemates Danny Whizzbang ($16), who stormed home, and Quanapirri Bay ($5), who shared the early lead with the winner.

Protostar (Dakota Gillett), the $1.80 bookmaker favourite, bombed the start and despite making up considerable ground tired in the home straight to finish seventh.

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