Darwin Friday races preview & betting tips | December 1, 2023
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Friday, December 1, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:15pm ACST |
There will be 40 runners on deck when the Darwin Turf Club hosts a terrific five-race meeting at Fannie Bay on Friday. There are plenty of chances in each race, which will make it a tough day for punters.
The feature race is a $24,500 handicap over 1200m where most of the 10 accepted runners are capable of saluting. The second heat of the Lightning Wet Season Series will also take place.
By Tuesday, 16mm had fallen in the Top End since the last meeting on November 18, with showers and thunderstorms predicted for the rest of the week. Come Friday, the forecast is for partly cloudy conditions with a 70 per cent chance of rain and a top temperature of 34C. The rail will be in the true position and Fannie Bay will be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: AMERICAN JAZZ
This four-year-old gelding brought decent form to Darwin despite failing to win a race in seven starts in Queensland from 1350–1800m. A first-up sixth in a 1300m maiden at Fannie Bay in July was not encouraging, but since then the son of American Pharoah has won three straight. After a 12-length romp back over 1300m in August, he put in two strong showings over the mile — the same trip he faces this weekend. While he goes up in grade, he has a good gate and drops 3.5kg in a five-horse field. Vallabar, The Albion and Influential Jack won’t lie down, but American Jazz will take some stopping.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#3 American Jazz (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (55kg)
NEXT BEST: FLY NICE
This four-year-old mare has had two starts in the Top End for a third when 0.4 lengths adrift over 1000m on October 21 before a last-start third when 4.5 lengths behind Patriotic King over 1100m on November 7. Before arriving in the NT, Fly Nice had 11 starts in Victoria and one start at Randwick, with her one and only win coming in a 1000m Moe maiden in June last year. Nevertheless, Fly Nice is without question a major player in this Class 2 race over 1200m, as most of her key rivals will lump heavy weights.
Next Best
Race 3 – 
#8 Fly Nice (3)
4yo Mare | T: Phil Cole | J: Emma Lines (a2) (55kg)
BEST VALUE: CIELO D’ORO
This son of Medaglia D’Oro returns to action after a last-start fourth behind Early Crow in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) in August during the Darwin Cup Carnival. Since arriving from the Ben & JD Hayes stable from Victoria, the seven-year-old gelding has had 12 Fannie Bay starts and has never missed the top four. Cielo D’Oro has had two wins over 1100m and one over 1000m, and although he has yet to win over 1200m, it’s hard to fault his first-up record of three wins from seven attempts. As an early $6.50 quote with top racing bookmakers, he must be respected.
Best Value
Race 4 – #4 Cielo D’Oro
7yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Aaron Sweeney (58kg)
Darwin Friday quaddie tips – 1/12/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Friday, December 1, 2023
- 2-3-4
- 1-3-8
- 1-4-5-6-9
- 1-2-5