Victorian bred gelding Saturday Sorcerer ran his rivals ragged to complete the Metric Mile – Darwin Cup double at Fannie Bay on Monday.

Saturday Sorcerer (5g Any Given Saturday – Jeune Magic by Jeune) jumped straight to the lead under leading Top End jockey Paul Denton and, despite being pressured in front by Cantonese, had enough in reserve to defeat the fast-finishing Alice Springs Cup winner Pretty Blonde.

“This horse loves Darwin and Paul has done a sensational job on him,” trainer Stuart Gower said.  “You will see an even better horse next year, so hopefully, we will be back to defend the title.”

It was Denton’s second Darwin Cup winner following On The Beam in 1999.  “I wanted to ride Design For Life in the Metric Mile but they booked a southern jockey so Stuart put me on this one,” Denton said.  “He had to win the Metric Mile to get into the Cup – it’s just terrific.”

Saturday Sorcerer is from the first southern crop of Darley sire Any Given Saturday who shuttled to Australia for four seasons until 2011.

Part-owner and breeder Ian Bell offered Saturday Sorcerer as a foal at the 2010 Inglis Great Southern Sale but he failed to make a $15,000 reserve.  His younger half-sister Bomber Miss (Bel Esprit) can break her maiden at Geelong this Friday.

Bell, who hails from the western districts at Portland, operates a significant racing and breeding operation with his wife Vicki under Campolina Pty Ltd.  Among their better gallopers is G3 Cockram Stakes winner Lady Melksham (Artie Schiller).