King Darci makes amends at Rosehill

Tim Martin’s decision to let King Darci make amends for a poor run at the earliest opportunity has paid off as the gelding completed a home track double for the Rosehill trainer.

Martin says the five-year-old produced probably the worst run of his 21-race career last week on his home track, where he finished second last and five lengths off the winner.

“I was going to trial him but we gave him a race instead. It’s a big turnaround,” the trainer said.

So King Darci ($7.50) faced a seven-day back-up for the first time and responded superbly to beat $3.30 favourite Bastia by a half-neck and claim the Tab.com.au Handicap (1500m) on Saturday.

Cellarman ($5) was a half-head further back.

Gambler’s Blues secured the first leg of his double in the National Jockeys Trust Handicap (2000m) and the gelding will now head for a spell.

“He’ll go to the paddock now. He’s had a bleeding attack before so I don’t want to give him too many runs each prep,” Martin said.

“I’ll give him a month off and then bring him back so he can continue to go through his grades.”