Darwin racing preview, best bets & quaddie | ANZAC Day 2023
| What | ANZAC Day Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Tuesday, April 25, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:13pm ACST |
To mark ANZAC Day, the Darwin Turf Club will host a highly respectable five-race twilight meeting with 42 runners accepting. Considering that the Alice Springs Cup Carnival is in full swing, it’s hard to fault the quality and depth of the fields at Fannie Bay with so many chances in each race. The feature race is the BMNT69 Handicap over 1100m (Race 4), where the Gary Clarke-trained Bel’s Banner will square off with Phil Cole’s El Magnificence.
As of Sunday, 15mm had fallen at Fannie Bay in the past seven days, and although mostly sunny conditions are expected for Monday, there’s the chance of a possible shower or storm come Tuesday. It will be partly cloudy throughout the day, with a predicted top temperature of 33C. The rail will be in the true position and the track will still be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: FRACTION LATE
This four-year-old gelding has had six career starts for just one win – a 1000m maiden at Fannie Bay during the Darwin Cup Carnival last July. The son of Sooboog had five starts from July to September and missed a place on each occasion, before spending the next seven months in the paddock. He returned to action on April 14 as the $4.40 second favourite and was far from disgraced, if not unlucky, when succumbing to the $2.80 favourite Global Wonder by 0.3 lengths over 1100m (0-58). Carries an extra 2.5kg on this occasion in a race that has attracted 11 starters, but he did win second-up nine months ago. Has drawn a decent gate in what shapes as a very open race and was an early $4.20 favourite late last week. To top things off, having the services of Paul Shiers will help.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#5 Fraction Late (5)
4yo Gelding | T: David Bates | J: Paul Shiers (57.5kg)
NEXT BEST: BARTOLINI
Bartolini hasn’t won a race since saluting over 1400m (Class 2) in Alice Springs last July, but the four-year-old gelding has certainly been knocking on the door ever since. A second over 1200m (BM66) in August and a third over 1200m (0-64) in September followed in the Red Centre before he was spelled. Returning to action in the Top End on Australia Day, the son of Written Tycoon was third over 1000m (0-64) before a second over 1200m (Class 2) against the three- and four-year-olds in February. Two starts in March resulted in a third over 1100m against the three- and four-year-olds in a heat of the National Apprentice Race Series before a last-start second over 1300m (0-64). Add in a third and a win in Alice Springs before saluting last July, and Bartolini hasn’t missed a place in his past nine appearances.
Next Best
Race 1 – 
#1 Bartolini (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Emma Lines (a3) (61.5kg)
NEXT BEST AGAIN: RAFFALLI
Quoted as an early $7.50 hope, this four-year-old gelding hasn’t been far off the mark lately and perhaps he will finally achieve that first Darwin win at the seventh attempt. Arriving from Queensland with one win under his belt in 10 starts, Raffalli won first-up for Halter in Broome last August over 1000m (Class 2). Disqualified after winning at Kununurra in late August over 1100m (RTG48), the son of Choisir was victorious a week later on the grassed surface in WA over 1350m (RTG56). After time spent in the paddock, Raffalli failed to fire a shot in two starts in January and February. Since then he has gradually improved with a second over 1100m against the three- and four-year olds, a second over 1100m (0-58), a fourth over 1200m (BM54) and a last-start third over 1300m (BM54) on April 14.
Next Best Again
Race 2 – 
#3 Raffalli (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (60.5kg)
Darwin quaddie picks for ANZAC Day races
Darwin quadrella selections
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
- 2-3-4
- 1-2-4
- 3-5
- 2-5-6
Investment: $54 for 100%