Darwin racing preview & best bets | Saturday, December 31
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, December 31, 2022 |
| First Race | 1:23pm ACST |
We are back in the tropical north this Saturday for a slate of eight races at the Darwin Turf Club. HorseBetting’s NT racing analyst has gone through the card and picked out his best bets for the meeting, which kicks off at 1:23pm local time.
Best Bet at Darwin: Kirakat
Kirakat will be aiming for back-to-back wins in Heat 6 of the Lightning Wet Season Series. The daughter of Showcasing has made an impact since arriving from Victoria and was a certainty beaten in her first Darwin start when travelling wide throughout before finishing second behind Blueant by a nose over 1100m (0-58) on October 22. The four-year-old mare started at $11 that day, but the bookies liked what they saw and at her next start over 1100m (0-58) on November 19 – Heat 2 of the Lightning Wet Season Series – she never looked like losing after saluting by five lengths as a $1.80 favourite. Kirakat, who was purchased at the 2022 Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale during the Darwin Cup Carnival, brought respectable Victorian provincial form to the NT having had 11 starts for a win, two seconds, a third, two fourths and two fifths. It will be a frantic start to the race, but should Kirakat settle comfortably she’s a massive chance because she was full of running in the home straight back in November.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#12 Kirakat (9)
4yo Mare | T: Jason Manning | J: Vanessa Arnott (57kg)
Next Best at Darwin: Chief Mondo
Chief Mondo hasn’t won a race at Fannie Bay since the Darwin Cup Carnival when he got the cash over 1100m (0-58) on July 16, and although he has endured contrasting fortunes since then he definitely caught the eye three weeks ago when second behind Brazenpine over 1000m (0-58). It was a welcome return to form for the five-year-old gelding after finishing fifth twice over 1000m (0-64) and over 1200m (0-64) in October and November. Following that Cup Carnival win, the son of Headwater certainly had a spring in his step and went on to finish third over 1200m (0-62) on July 27 before coming second behind Expert Witness over 1100m (0-64) in September. Arriving from Queensland, Chief Mondo debuted in the Top End in March and was fifth over 1100m (0-58) before a third over 1000m (Class 2), a second behind First Crusade over 1100m (0-58), a third over 1100m (BM54) and a win over 1000m (0-58) where he pipped Bat Pad by half a length. Despite a fifth over 1200m (Class 2) on June 18, Chief Mondo’s form has been solid and to jump from the inside gate with Jarrod Todd on board is a significant bonus. Every chance Todd will search for the early lead in an attempt to run South Australian arrival Lockdown Sally, Lucky Dog, New Roman and One For Anna off their legs.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#1 Chief Mondo (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)
Next Best Again at Darwin: War Games
After 27 starts in Victoria and NSW, which included just one win in a 975m maiden at Swan Hill in September 2020 – as well as two seconds, three thirds and four fourths – War Games has had eight starts for Dick Leech and he hasn’t done much wrong. After a seventh over 1000m (Class 1) on a Heavy 10 at Albury in May, the six-year-old gelding started his NT career during the Darwin Cup Carnival with victory over 1100m (Class 2) on July 27 at $15. It was then off to WA where the son of War raced on the Kununurra grass in August and September for a second behind stablemate Write Your Name, before a sixth and third over 1350m (RTG56). Returning to action at Fannie Bay two months later on November 1, War Games finished 10th over 1300m (0-58). He clearly needed that run on Melbourne Cup Day, as he backed up 11 days later to finish third over 1200m (BM54). Sitting in last place, the gelding showed incredible acceleration with 600m left to go on December 3 before cruising to victory over 1100m (BM54). Six days later, War Games backed up and settled mid-field over 1300m (BM54) before tiring to finish third after sitting in second place in the home straight. All Stardom, Minister and Sodbuster will not be easy to beat, but it’s hard to ignore War Games’ victory earlier this month.
Next Best Again
Race 6 – #5 War Games (2)
6yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Cecily Eaton (57.5kg)
Saturday quaddie picks for Darwin races
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, December 31, 2022
- 1-2-8-12
- 1-3-5-6
- 1-4-5
- 1-4
Investment: $72 for 100%