Darwin Friday racing tips & quaddie | December 8, 2023
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Friday, December 8, 2023 |
| First Race | 2:24pm ACST |
We return to Fannie Bay this Friday after an entertaining meeting at the Darwin track last week. Here’s hoping for another good day of racing, with 42 runners accepting for the six-part meeting.
In the main race, over 1100m at 0-70 level, the Darwin Turf Club will honour the late Victorian jockey Nathan Stanley, who rode the Dick Leech-trained Club Liquid to a victory in the 2008 Darwin Cup by 13 lengths. Also scheduled is the third heat of the Lightning Wet Season Series, to be run over 1000m at 0-58 level.
Since last Friday, upwards of 18mm of rain had fallen in the Top End up until Wednesday, with further rain predicted for the rest of the week. The forecast for Friday shows partly cloudy conditions with showers and a thunderstorm, along with a top temperature of 34C. The rail will be in the true position and Fannie Bay will once again be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: NO RAIN NO FLOWERS
This five-year-old mare has yet to win a race after 20 starts. The daughter of Shalaa made her Top End debut in late October when third in a 1300m maiden, before finishing third in a 1200m maiden on Melbourne Cup Day. No Rain No Flowers ran second last start as a $1.75 favourite over 1100m against maiden performers and three-year-olds at Class 2 level on November 18, suggesting she isn’t all that far away. Compared to her rivals, she clearly has the form on the board.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#5 No Rain No Flowers (2)
5yo Mare | T: Chris Pollard | J: Adam Nicholls (57kg)
NEXT BEST: BEL’S BANNER
This daughter of Starspangledbanner was making good ground last start over 1100m on Melbourne Cup Day before suffering interference in the 10-horse field at the 500m. The eight-year-old mare recovered and rallied in the home straight before finishing 2.4 lengths behind Mighty Murt in fifth place. Bel’s Banner is a big chance in this five-horse field if she can replicate her effort from a month ago, but Rising Sphere, El Magnificence and Great Diviner are decent opposition. In 15 Darwin starts since debuting in October 2021, the former Victorian galloper boasts five wins.
Next Best
Race 3 – 
#4 Bel’s Banner (2)
8yo Mare | T: Gary Clarke | J: Aaron Sweeney (58.5kg)
NEST BEST AGAIN: ZOURISKY
Zourisky didn’t set the world on fire when running seventh last start over 1600m on Melbourne Cup Day. That followed a fourth over 1300m on October 21. Prior to that, the five-year-old mare recorded back-to-back wins over 1300m. The daughter of Zoustar — an early $10 quote with racing bookmakers — is back after a let-up, with Gary Clarke’s top rider, Jarrod Todd, electing to ride the horse ahead of stablemates Wilsons Prom and Patria.
Next Best Again
Race 1 – #6 Zourisky (4)
5yo Mare | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)
Darwin Friday quaddie tips – 8/12/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Friday, December 8, 2023
- 2-3-4
- 1-2-4
- 1-5-7
- 1-2-3-7