Darwin racing preview & best bets – Saturday, September 10
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, September 10, 2022 |
| First Race | 3:27pm ACST |
The Darwin Turf Club plays host to a five-race card this Saturday from 3:27pm local time. We have gone through every race at Fannie Bay and picked out our bet bets for the program.
Race 1 (3.27pm) – $18,375 TAB 0-58 Handicap (1300m)
Afternoon Tea hasn’t put a foot wrong since arriving in Top End. The five-year-old mare only had two starts in Victoria last year where she finished sixth in a 1200m maiden at Donald in May and seventh in a 1400m maiden on the synthetic surface at Pakenham in June. Starting at $41 in her debut appearance at Fannie Bay on July 27, Afternoon Tea finished half a length adrift in second place over 1100m (Class 2). The daughter of Foxwedge then blitzed her rivals by five lengths over 1300m (0-54) at Katherine on August 13 before suffering the narrowest of defeats over 1300m (0-58) back at Darwin on August 27. Mr Boomjangles starts after his close win over Afternoon Tea in late August. Fraction Late is also a lightly raced commodity and despite finishing unplaced in his last two starts is expected to feature prominently. On their day Brimarvi Rooboy, Zap, Really Swish and Nokondi can certainly deliver the goods. Freddy The Eagle wasn’t all that far away in South Australia before a last start sixth at Gawler on June 22.
Best Bet
Race 1 – #4 Afternoon Tea (7)
5yo Mare | T: Phil Cole | J: Wayne Davis (57.5kg)
Race 2 (4.07pm) – $18,375 Sitzler TROBIS Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Champs D’Or hasn’t finished out of a place in four starts since July 27. The five-year-old mare failed in two starts in Alice Springs in April and May, and finished sixth on each occasion in her first three Fannie Bay starts in May and June. A third placing over 1200m (0-62) against the fillies and mares on July 2 was an encouraging sign before Champs D’Or came sixth over 1300m (0-62) two weeks later. A third over 1100m (Class 2) in late July was followed by a win over 1100m (0-58) at Katherine on August 13. Two close seconds in Darwin over 1000m (Class 2) on August 27 and 1100m (BM54) last Saturday suggests that the former Victorian galloper is a big chance. Blueberry Boy has recorded a win and two seconds since arriving in the Top End. Wild Rover has been racing well without getting the cash, so a win would not surprise. Bat Pad was placed in his first two Darwin starts in May and June before finishing third in that BM54 race last weekend. Good idea to treat Turnstar, Zip Lane, Sabaku and Rich Sun with respect.
Best Bet
Race 2 – #4 Champs D’or (5)
5yo Mare | T: Chris Nash | J: Stan Tsaikos (57.5kg)
Race 3 (4.47pm) – $21,525 Oktoberfest Saturday 22nd October BM76 Handicap (1200m)
Rising Sphere started his racing career in Victoria and proved competitive in the city and in the bush posting four wins from 14 starts. Before heading to the NT, the five-year-old gelding had three starts in South Australia in December and January. A fifth at Morphettville over 1050m (BM60) was followed by a sixth over 900m (BM64) at Murray Bridge before a fifth back at Morphettville over 1100m (BM68). A seventh on his Darwin debut over 1100m (0-66) on July 13 was followed by two impressive wins over 1100m (0-66) on July 27 and August 1. He will have his hands full against pretty decent opposition on Saturday, but he has the form on the board. Cielo D’Oro, yet another arrival from Victoria, looked pretty classy when he won on debut over 1000m (BM76) on August 27. Ideas Man, who has been a solid performer in recent months, and Charretera, who hails from Queensland, finished second and third, respectively, behind Cielo D’Oro two weeks ago. Eastwood, one of the NT’s best sprinters, is back from Broome and just cannot be overlooked. Mister Monaro, Obligatory and Overruled won’t lie down in what should be a terrific contest.
Best Bet
Race 3 – #5 Rising Sphere (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (56.5kg)
Race 4 (5.20pm) – $19,425 Lexus of Darwin Melbourne Cup 1st November 0-64 Handicap (1100m)
Expert Witness gets the nod in what shapes as a tight affair. The four-year-old gelding has only had 10 starts after finishing second in a 860m maiden at Gatton in Queensland in May last year. Expert Witness was unable to re-produce that form finishing seventh in 1000m maiden at Toowoomba in July and 11th in a 900m maiden at the Gold Coast. His Darwin career started on New Year’s Day when he snuck home to win an 1100m maiden. That was followed by a second over 1100m against fellow 3YOs and maiden runners on Australia Day before a third over 1000m (0-64) on February 18. Expert Witness had three starts over 1000m during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July for a win (0-58), a third (0-66) and a win (0-62). Willing to forgive him after coming fifth over 1100m (0-64) a fortnight ago. Dream Weaver and Don’t Say It finished second and third, respectively, over 1100m (0-64) two weeks ago. Chief Mondo has finished out of a place just once in his past seven starts. Victorian debutante All Stardom might just upset the locals.
Best Bet
Race 4 – #2 Expert Witness (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (60kg)
Race 5 (5.50pm) – $18,375 hygain.com.au 0-58 Handicap (1000m)
Minister secured victory for the first time in his eighth career start when he led from to start to finish to overcome his rivals over 1000m (Class 2) on August 27. At one stage the four-year-old gelding held a big lead, but in the shadows of the post the air was running out of his tyres before edging out the fast-finishing Champs D’Or. In just five starts in NSW for Richard Litt and then Richard and Michael Freedman, the best Minister could deliver were two thirds in an 1100m maiden at Nowra and a 900m maiden at Newcastle. A sixth on debut at Fannie Bay in a 1200m maiden on July 9 was followed by a third in an 1100m maiden a fortnight later. Lumping an extra 3.5kg might be a hurdle, but there was a lot to like when assessing his brave effort last weekend. Shenanigan City drops sharply in grade and can make an impact if he’s on his game. Yowza impressed during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in Darwin. Little Kibo, Mystery Flyer and Dream Chance are the next best.
Best Bet
Race 5 – #3 Minister (4)
4yo Gelding | T: Jason Manning | J: Paul Shiers (59kg)