IT'S BOLDINHO'S DAY AS THE FAVOURITE COMES UNSTUCK IN THE PALMERSTON SPRINT AT DARWIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, August 1, 2026

Great expectations can lead to a big disappointment … and if there is ever a game that can bring anyone down to earth when they think you are ready to take flight … racing is the name of that game.

Pre-race, the $150 000 Palmerston Sprint over 1200m, the Northern Territory’s richest sprint, was being touted as the launchpad to better things for the race favourite the Chloe Baxter trained Balastier, who had not only romped in by 7.80 lengths in his previous start, but who had also set a new track record there over the same track and distance over which the Palmerston Sprint is contested.

But, as things turned out, Balastier ($1.75) was essentially a no show at the business end of affairs in the race he was predicted to rule, with that distinction going instead to the Gary Clark trained Baldinho who was partnered to a clearcut victory by Stan Tsaikos.

In his previous start, Balastier was pushed into an immediate lead by Jason Lyon … and he then proceeded to put his opposition to the sword, holding a comfortable early led before forging away to open up a four length lead approaching the home turn … and he just kept increasing that leading margin in the straight.

If ever there was an example of a horse relishing his front running role, this was it.

In the Palmerston Sprint though, Balastier did not attempt to scorch clear and dictate the course of events. Instead, Lyon elected to take the trail in second place, leas than a length back and just to the outside of the speedy Wild Beau ($21), whose jockey Jessica Booth had signalled a clear intention to lead from the break.

The leading duo were, in turn, being tracked a couple of lengths back by the Baldinho (the $7 third favourite.

Up until then there were no real warning signs for the followers of the favourite to be overly concerned about, but the expected script for the favourite already went out of the window early in the home straight when Lyon asked Balastier to reel in Wild Beau and he struggled to do that as the long time leader kicked on gamely.

And it was here that Boldinho took over the leading role, accelerating sharply into the gap between Wild Beau and Balastier, easily shrugging off Balastier before also putting paid to Wild Beau’s stirring effort … to race away over the concluding stages to score a very impressive victory.

Early Crow ($11), who had won no less than the last three editions of the Palmerston Sprint, put in another strong Palmerston Sprint showing, coming from well back to claim second place, getting to within 1.50 lengths of the winner … leaving Wild Beau (third) and Balastier (fourth) to complete the minor placings.

The $6 second favourite Runaway Tycoon raced handy early but was already a spent force before the home turn and weakened out of it to finish unplaced.

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