Alice Springs race tips and best bets | NT Preview 1/10
| What | Alice Springs Races |
| Where | Alice Springs – Pioneer Park South, Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Sunday, October 1, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:20pm ACST |
The Red Centre takes centre stage in the NT this weekend with the Alice Springs Turf Club hosting a five-race meeting at Pioneer Park with the 46 horses accepting. It should be an interesting meeting with numerous chances in every race, which will definitely make it tough going for punters. The feature race is a Benchmark 76 over 1100m worth $22,500 and although it’s a small field good luck splitting Supreme Times, Great Buy, Irememberwhen and Rock Of Kryptonite. Hot conditions have been forecast for Sunday and although it’s expected to become cloudy hot winds from the north-west will see the mercury climb to 37C. It hasn’t rained in Central Australia since July 31 when 0.2mm was recorded. The rail will be in the true position and as usual Pioneer Park will be a good dirt surface.
Best Bet: Drawn To Win
Has yet to win a race after 11 starts, but in fairness was desperately unlucky to go down last Sunday when pipped on the post in a 1000m maiden. The five-year-old gelding jumped well as the $2.60 favourite with horse betting sites and was in terrific shape after establishing a healthy lead exiting back straight. In the end, the son of Sepoy just couldn’t hang on after spotting the fast-finishing Big Feelings three kilograms. Drawn To Win, who carries an extra 2kg this weekend and jumps from a wider gate, was the early $3 favourite during the week and with a bit more luck can cap off his 10th start in the Red Centre with a win. Two seconds, two third and two fourths is a sign that the former NSW galloper isn’t that far away.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 Drawn To Win (9)
5yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Alice Lindsay (59kg)
Next Best: Sienna’s Choice
The six-year-old mare has had 14 starts at Pioneer Park after debuting in February and has yet to taste victory, but showed signs last Sunday that she could be in the mix this weekend. Well adrift in sixth place at the 600m, the daughter of Love Conquers All motored home to finish 2.5 lengths adrift of the winner Quick Return in third place over 1400m (BM54). The fact that Sienna’s Choice is backing up over 1600m carrying less weight and has once again drawn a decent gate explains why she was the early $2 favourite with Neds. Three thirds is the mare’s best return in the Red Centre after five wins from 1350-1680m in Queensland, which included two wins at Doomben and victory at Eagle Farm.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#6 Sienna’s Choice (3)
6yo Mare | T: Will Savage | J: Stan Tsaikos (56.5kg)
Next Best Again: Lastar
It’s definitely the most competitive race of the day, but Lastar has been racing well of late and the fact that he was quoted at $11 during the week was hard to ignore. The five-year-old gelding is likely to start at a shorter price come Sunday, which will come as no surprise after two wins, a second and a last start third over 1100m (0-64) in Central Australia on September 10. The son of Zoustar had a win and a third from four Alice Springs starts for former trainer Nicole Irwin from SA in April before two disappointing efforts in Darwin in June and July. Lastar has found his mojo since returning to the Red Centre with his two wins having been achieved over 1200m at BM54 and BM66 level during August.
Next Best Again
Race 2 – 
#6 Lastar (6)
6yo Mare | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Alice Lindsay (59.5kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Alice Springs races
Alice Springs quadrella selections
Sunday, October 1, 2023
- 1-2-6-8
- 1-2-3
- 1-3-4
- 4-6