Darwin racing tips and quaddie picks | NT Preview 7/11
| What | Darwin races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Drive, Fannie Bay, NT, 0820 |
| When | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:45pm ACST |
A total of 61 horses have accepted with big fields the order of the day as the Darwin Turf Club prepares to host a strong six-event program. The feature race, a $30,000 open handicap over 1300m has attracted a small field, but 10 or more horses will line up in the other five races thus making it a tough day for punters to pick winners with confidence. Hasn’t rained in the Top End since October 6, but it would be wise to keep an eye on the weather as showers and thunderstorms are predicted for Monday and Tuesday. Winds will emanate from the west before turning north-westerly with a top temperature of 34 degrees. 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 November 7, 2023.
Best Bet: Gunshot Glitter
It’s a risk settling on a non-winner with confidence, especially when they jump from a wide gate, but the former Victorian galloper is getting awfully close to claiming that first victory and Tuesday could be the day. The four-year-old gelding finished third in his debut start in a 1147m Geelong maiden in January last year before failing his next six starts for trainer Phillip Stokes. Debuting in the Top End in July, the son of Spirit Of Boom finished 12th in a 1200m maiden and third in an 1100m maiden before coming fifth in a 1200m maiden. Returning in September after a month in the paddock, Gunshot Glitter has managed three straight seconds in a 1200m maiden behind Bluffed, an 1100m maiden behind Capstan and a 1300m maiden behind Lord Fenrir to suggest he can finally enjoy that first win.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 Gunshot Glitter (11)
4YO Gelding | T: Ella Clarke | J: Mark Pegus (59kg)
Next Best: Vallabar
Vallabar made a huge impression in the north last year when third in the Darwin Cup (2050m) before taking out the Katherine Cup (1700m). Returning to Scott Brunton’s stable in Tasmania where he failed to fire a single shot in five starts, Vallabar headed back to the Top End and wasn’t sighted in the ROANT Gold Cup (1300m), Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) and Darwin Cup in July and August. The eight-year-old gelding then finished 7.5 lengths adrift in second place behind Hettinger in the Katherine Cup on August 19 and was fourth over 1200m (BM76) on September 23 before posting a narrow win over 1300m (0-70) on October 7. The fact that Vallabar also drops 6kg on Tuesday in a five-horse field enhances his hopes immeasurably. Without question the one to beat.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#4 Vallabar (4)
8YO Rig | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (55kg)
Best Value: Kirakat
The former Victorian galloper debuted at Fannie Bay in October last year and produced respectable form before going off the boil during the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival. However, it appears as though the son of Showcasing is getting back to his best if recent form is any guide. On September 23, the five-year-old gelding was second behind the impressive Starspangledancer over 1200m (Class 2) before another second behind Looking For You over 1200m (0-58) a fortnight later. Definitely capable of making an impact in what shapes as a very even race and a decent gate certainly helps. Kirakat managed a second over 1100m (0-58), a win over 1100m (0-58), a fourth over 1100m (0-64) and a third over 1200m (Class 2) in his first four NT starts before performing miserably in his next four starts.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#8 Kirakat (2)
5yo Mare | T: Jason Manning | J: Vanessa Arnott (56.5kg)
Darwin quaddie selections
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
- 1-2-11
- 1-2-5-7
- 1-5-6-8
- 3-4-5-6