Darwin racing preview & best bets | Saturday, June 17
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, June 17, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:42pm ACST |
The Darwin Cup Carnival is just three weeks away, and 58 horses have accepted for the seven-race meeting at Fannie Bay this Saturday. There are plenty of chances in every race, which will only add to the intrigue. The feature race is a $24,500 open handicap over 1200m with Cielo D’Oro, Great Diviner, Bat Pad, Soul Spirit and Star Magnum – who wouldn’t look out of place in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 5 – battling it out.
It hadn’t rained in the Top End since April 27 before 0.2mm fell in the Darwin area on Wednesday, but unfortunately it missed Fannie Bay. Sunny conditions with a top temperature of 32C is the forecast for Saturday, along with 15-20km/h winds that will ease in the afternoon. The rail will be in the true position and the track will be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: I’M A DREAMER
From the Tayarn Halter yard, I’m A Dreamer produced an outstanding effort last start when victorious over 1600m (0-64) two weeks ago. It was his first win over 1600m having finished second in six previous attempts. The four-year-old gelding jumped from the inside gate and settled just behind the leaders before kicking clear in the home straight to overcome decent opposition to win by two lengths. The son of Divine Prophet had finished second in three straight races over 1300m during March and April before coming sixth over 1300m (0-58) on May 6 and fourth over 1600m (0-58) on May 27. He lumps an additional 3.5kg and has drawn a wide gate this weekend, but drops back in grade and is good enough to go back-to-back.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#1 I’m A Dreamer (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Jade Hampson (a2) (59.5kg)
NEXT BEST BET: CAPTAIN GEORGE
Arriving from the Randwick stable of Anthony Cummings, this four-year-old gelding was certainly impressive when victorious in his Darwin debut over 1200m (BM54) a fortnight ago. The son of Vancouver had 14 starts in NSW and it was in a Wyong maiden over 1100m last November where he tasted success for the first time. The only other time he finished among the minor placings was in his second last NSW start when third over 1600m (Class 1) at Gosford on March 16. In Captain George’s defence, he did finish fourth on four occasions at Wyong (twice), Randwick’s Kensington course and Warwick Farm. He was the $2.35 favourite with the top bookmakers in his NT debut and he will once again take some stopping.
Next Best
Race 3 – 
#2 Captain George (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59.5kg)
NEXT BEST AGAIN: HETTINGER
Neil Dyer’s Hettinger hadn’t won a race in 16 starts before blitzing his rivals by 3.3 lengths over 1400m (BM54) in Alice Springs on June 4 en route to the Top End. The four-year-old gelding shared the lead after holding the fence and then pinched a break before leaving his rivals in his wake once turning for home. The ease of victory was significant as the son of I Am Invincible hadn’t finished any better than fifth in five previous starts once arriving back in Victoria at the start of the year. Hettinger’s previous best efforts were a second in a 1200m Echuca maiden in October 2021 for Michael Maroney and a second in a 1415m Coffs Harbour maiden for Kris Lee in December 2021. Carrying an extra 5kg is the only concern.
Next Best Again
Race 7 – 
#2 Hettinger (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Neil Dyer | J: Jade Hampson (a2) (59kg)
BEST VALUE: REAL DIVINE
The Kerry Petrick-trained Real Divine has won three of her past seven starts in Alice Springs since January 21, which also includes a second and a third. A win over 1200m (0-58) on April 8 was followed by a second over 1200m (0-58) on April 28 before a last-start win over 1200m (0-58) on May 28. The only concern for the four-year-old mare is that in five starts at Fannie Bay last June and July the best she could produce were two fourths over 1600m and a fourth over 1300m. Since then the daughter of Real Saga managed a win at Kununurra last September over 1350m and in nine starts in the Red Centre her record stands at 3-2-1. Real Divine’s other two career wins were at Ipswich over 1690m and Kilcoy over 1500m in 2021.
Best Value
Race 5 – 
#7 Real Divine (7)
4yo Mare | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (57.5kg)
Saturday NT quaddie tips for Darwin races
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, June 17, 2023
- 4-5-8-9
- 1-4-5-7
- 1-2
- 2-5-6
Investment: $96 for 100%