Andrew O’Toole, Tennant & District Times

The annual “Two Cups” Race Day at Hagan Park in Tennant Creek on Saturday is always a fixture to look forward to, being the only meeting held in the town of just over 3,000 people and 500km north of Alice Springs.

Six races have been assembled for the meeting, and a total of 33 horses will do battle around the sand course in the Barkly.

As the meeting’s name depicts, there are two Cup races on the day, the $30,000 Lad-brokes & Remote Concrete NT Tennant Creek Cup over 1600m, and the $21,500 Little Rippers Lifestyles Denis Staunton Memorial Cup (1200m).

Both events have just five runners engaged, but nevertheless they should both be competitive affairs to bring the curtain down on what is always a well-attended meeting.

The feature event is the last of the day, the Tennant Creek Cup, and top-weight Great Buy will have to carry 6kg more than his four rivals, being burdened with 60kg.

Even though apprentice Dakota Gillett takes the mount, the event is a non-claiming one so there will be no reduction to Great Buy’s impost.

The Terry Gillett-trained 7yo has only started twice at the trip for one second, and the Tennant Creek 1600m is a testing one – he will need to be at his best to win.

Darwin visitor Command King might be the way to go.

Trained by three-time Cup-winning trainer Angela Forster, Command King has been in good form recently, finishing second in the St Pat’s Cup in the Top End behind Son of Bielski before a third placing to Duty in a BM76 2000m in Alice Springs on Cup Day.

He had a pipe-opener for this in Darwin last week, finishing 5.3 lengths fifth behind Influential Jack over 1300m, and the return to a mile should be to his liking.

Ianish Luximon, who won the Cup here last year aboard Taipan Tommy, will be looking to go back-to-back on the son of Epaulette.

Fantasy Eagle is one of two in the event trained by Will Savage, who seldom leaves Hagan Park without a winner.

A great supporter of this popular country fixture, Savage has a live chance in the big one, with Fantasy Eagle in solid form of late, including a last-start second to AS Cup runner-up Desert Lass over 1400m on 5 May.

He should give a good account of himself with veteran rider Paul Denton to do the steering.

Barocco Bar, trained by Dan Morgan, and Brut Star (Savage) complete the five-horse field, and a bold showing by either would not surprise.

Barocco Bar is a previous winner at the trip, while Brut Star, who has yet to win in the NT, has twice finished second over the journey from six attempts.

Despite the small field, it should prove a fascinating contest.

The Denis Staunton Memorial Cup should be run at a hot pace, with top-weight Brat a likely leader along with New Roman.

The latter is the only runner in the event to have previous track experience, having finished third over this trip in 2022.

He is fresh-up and has performed well in this state previously.

Brat is a consistent sprinter, having won six times at 1200m, and will benefit from young Gillett’s 2kg claim.

Perkova (Casey Hunter) is another with prospects in an even line-up.

Gates open at 11.30am, and a great day is expected, with TAB and bookmaker facilities on-course, and all the interstate racing, as well as Tennant Creek, live on Sky Channel.

Don’t miss the much-loved President’s Foot Races, as well as the ever-popular Fashions on the Field.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 17 May 2024.