Alice Springs racing preview & best bets | Easter Saturday 2023
| What | 2023 Alice Springs Cup Carnival – Day 1 |
| Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Saturday, April 8, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:17pm ACST |
A bumper nine-race card will launch the 2023 Alice Springs Cup Carnival this Saturday, with 73 runners accepting in what should prove to be highly competitive day of racing. This is the first of five meetings culminating with the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on April 30.
The two feature races on Day 1 are Open Handicaps over 1100m and 1400m with a $26,300 purse. Total prizemoney for the day totals $206,600.
It was rare to see it raining at Pioneer Park last weekend, and a total of 25.2mm has fallen in the Red Centre since last Saturday. The forecast for Saturday is for fine conditions and light winds with a top temperature of 31C. The rail will be in the true position and it will be a good dirt surface.
Best Bet: Poupee
Boasts five wins from nine starts in Darwin as the five-year-old mare prepares to make her debut in the Red Centre. The former Queensland galloper, who has tasted victory on eight occasions in 30 career starts, has prevailed from 1000-1400m and was a last start winner over 1300m (BM76) at Fannie Bay on March 4. Made a huge impact after arriving in the Top End 12 months ago with three straight big wins – twice over 1100m in open company and at 0-70 level and once over 1000m (0-70). Disappointed over 1000m (0-76) in June and 1200m (0-76) in July before having a four-month break. A second over 1000m (0-76) behind Expert Witness (0.2 lengths) in November was followed by a win over 1100m (BM70) by half a length on New Year’s Eve and a second over 1100m (0-76) behind Cudjerie (0.1 lengths) in February before her latest outing. Outside barrier a slight hiccup and she does confront good opposition, but at her best the daughter of Better Than Ready will be hard to beat.
#3 Poupee (7)Next Best: Lethal Encounter
The son of Squamosa is in superb form and will be aiming to make it five straight wins at Pioneer Park on Saturday. Failed to win a race in Victoria in nine starts with his best effort a third in a 1000m Mildura maiden in October 2021. Debuting in Alice Springs in July last year, the five-year-old gelding finished fourth in a 1200m maiden before finally cracking it for a win the following week over 1200m (BM54). It was then off to the grassed-surface at Kununurra in late August-early September where Lethal Encounter had three starts for three placings from 1200-1350m. After a short spell he returned and finished sixth over 1200m (Class 2) on November 26 before a coming third over 1200m (0-58) on December 4. Since then he has been nothing short of unstoppable with wins over 1400m (Class 2), 1200m (Class 2) and 1400m (0-64) before a last start win by 5.3 lengths over 1600m (0-70) in the $30,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup on March 19. The inside gate and a 2kg claim enhances his prospects.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#1 Lethal Encounter (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Jade Hampson (a2) (54kg)
Best Value: Tanner
After a respectable first-up Alice Springs Cup Carnival campaign last year, Tanner was far from disgraced in his first appearance back in the Red Centre when second behind the in-form Esashi over 1000m (BM73) on March 25. The six-year-old gelding made seven appearances at Pioneer Park last year and failed to run a place in three races during March over 1200m (BM76), 1200m (0-64) and 1000m (0-64). Come April, the son of Reward For Effort clicked into gear winning three straight races over 1200m (0-64) by 6.8 lengths, 1200m (0-70) and 1200m at weight-for-age level to seal a start in the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) where he finished fourth behind back to back winner Smuggling. Returning to SA, Tanner had only two starts finishing well adrift over 1200m (BM64) at Balaklava and over 1000m (BM68) at Morphettville Parks. Before arriving at Montgomerie’s stable in Port Augusta, he had 21 starts in Victoria for four wins and has been placed three times in eight SA appearances.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
#4 Tanner (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Trevor Montgomerie | J: Casey Hunter (60kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Alice Springs races
Alice Springs quadrella selections
Saturday, April 8, 2023
- 2-3-7
- 1-3-4
- 1-2
- 1-2-4-7
Investment: $72 for 100%