On 3 August 34 years ago, the horse Scarvila, ridden by Ricky Lloyd, won the 1987 Darwin Cup. Scarvila was owned jointly by Top End road train pioneer Noel Buntine, the then NT Administrator Commodore Eric Johnston, and Brian Officer. Scarvila went on to win the 1987 Dalgety Handicap, came fifth in the Caulfield Cup and 15th in the 1987 Melbourne Cup Scarvila was the first Territory horse to run in the Melbourne Cup since King Ingoda (by Comedy King) won in 1922.
Scarvila (son of a Todman horse Scarlet Man out of Vila Babe) arrived at Buntine’s stables from WA early in 1985 as a three-year-old, having won a 2200 metre Graduation Stakes at Ascot, the Western Australian Turf Club headquarters.