Darwin racing tips and quaddie picks | NT Preview 28/10

October 26, 2023 7:28 pm.

Darwin racing preview for October 28, 2023

What	Darwin races
Where	Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Drive, Fannie Bay, NT, 0820
When	Saturday, October 28
First Race	2:52pm ACST
Visit Dabble

Fields are on the light side with 32 horses accepting for the five-race meeting at Darwin. Trainers are cooling their heels before the big Melbourne Cup Day meeting on November 7. Darwin’s feature race on Saturday is for the sprinters over 1000m at Benchmark 76 level where talented trio Doc O’Connor, Star Magnum and Mr Cashman will square off.

There has been no rain in Darwin since October 6 (1.6mm) and although the forecast is for a slight chance of rain late in the week, it will be mostly sunny come Saturday. Light north-east to south-east winds will then tend north-west to north-east in the afternoon with a top temperature of 36C. The rail will be in the true position and Fannie Bay will be a good dirt surface.

Here are our free Darwin racing tips for October 28, 2023.

Best Bet: Son of Bielski

Son of Bielski is aiming for three straight wins. A first up fifth on his Fannie Bay debut in September over 1100m at BM54 level was followed by an impressive 3.3 lengths win over 1300m against BM54 opposition on October 7 before backing up to put his 0-64 rivals to the sword over 1300m on October 21. Camped at the back three weeks ago, the seven-year-old gelding was four deep at the 600m before finishing strongly out wide once turning for home. Jumping from the outside gate of 10 last Saturday, the son of Dissident settled way off the pace before worming his way through the field at the 600m to produce yet another late finishing burst on the outside to seal victory by 1.5 lengths. Son Of Bielski won over 1550m in June and 1400m in July at Morphettville for previous trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea.

Best Bet

Race 1 – #2 Son Of Bielski (3)

7YO Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Mark Pegus (59.5kg)

-111.11 with Betfair

Next Best: Change Is Coming

Back from a spell, four-year-old gelding Change is Coming should make it three wins from five Top End starts. He could not have been more emphatic when he won on debut at Fannie Bay as a $2.60 favourite with horse betting sites on July 15 by 10.5 lengths over 1000m against 0-58 opposition in a time of 56.17. Exceedingly Magic, a last start winner last Saturday who is a fellow starter this weekend, was second that day. Change Is Coming found the opposition too hot next start on July 29 when fourth behind Early Crow, who would go on to win the Palmerston Sprint, at an open level over 1100m as a $1.70 favourite. The son of Capitalist was third over 1000m against 0-62 class as a $1.40 favourite on August 5 before bouncing back to decimate his Class 2 rivals by 8.1 lengths over 1000m on September 2 as a $1.24 favourite.

Next Best

Race 2 – #1 Change Is Coming (3)

4YO Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)

-181.82 with Dabble

Next Best Again: Pop Magic

His form can fluctuate at times, but on his day Pop Magic is more than a handy competitor. The five-year-old gelding was a $5.50 quote during the week in a race where six of the seven runners were at single figure odds – Henestrosa was the $2.90 favourite. The son of Wandjina arrived in the Top End last year and finished second in a 1100m maiden in May before winning an 1100m maiden in June, but then he went off the boil. Pop Magic returned in late May to win over 1100m against BM54 opposition before saluting yet again over 1000m in 0-58 class on June 3. A ninth over 1100m at 0-58 level on June 24 was followed by a fourth over 1000m in 0-62 grade on August 5 before finishing 9.8 lengths adrift in second place over 1100m (BM54) behind Patriotic King, who broke the track record.