Darwin Friday racing tips & quaddie picks | April 12, 2024
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Friday, April 12, 2024 |
| First Race | 2:37pm ACST |
NT racing returns to the tropical north with the Darwin Turf Club hosting two heats of the National Apprentice Race Series. There are five races on the menu with 35 horses accepting in total, and no doubt the apprentices will receive plenty of exposure.
It hasn’t rained all week in the Top End, and Friday’s forecast is for cloudy conditions with a slight chance of rain and a top temperature of 34C. The rail will be in the true position and it will be a good dirt surface at Fannie Bay.
BEST BET: SIAKAM
Siakam has had six starts over 1200m at Fannie Bay for two wins and four seconds. He was second over the trip on February 23 in a BM73 after returning from a six-month spell, and again on March 16 over 1300m in open company. Siakam’s one and only start over 1100m, which he faces here, was in Alice Springs in April 2022 when ninth after a five-month hiatus. The gelding boasts a far better record over 1300m and 1600m, but he should have too much class for his four other rivals.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Siakam (3)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (58kg)
NEXT BEST: SPACESHIP
He has not raced since December, but Spaceship saluted in a 900m Fannie Bay trial on March 19 in preparation for his Top End debut. The son of Invader had two wins at Doomben under Robert Heathcote: a first-up triumph in a 1200m maiden last June, then another in July over 1350m. In his only other appearance in Brisbane before relocating to Darwin, the four-year-old gelding was third over 1200m in Class 2 company at Eagle Farm.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#1 Spaceship (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Rosie Mahony (a3) (62.5kg)
NEXT BEST AGAIN: THE STIFMEISTER
Despite winning his last two starts, The Stifmeister was not on the top line of betting with online bookmakers in early markets. Returning on the first day of autumn, the son of Lonhro stormed home for a narrow win over 1200m before going back-to-back with victory over 1300m on March 16. The Stifmeister had 16 starts for Sunshine Coast-based trainer Stuart Kendrick for one win, one second and two thirds.
Next Best Again
Race 3 – 
#1 The Stifmeister (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Jade Hampson (a1.5) (61.5kg)
Friday Darwin quaddie tips – 12/4/2024
Darwin quadrella selections
Friday, April 12, 2024
- 1-4-5
- 1-2-3
- 2-3-4-5-6
- 1-3-6-8