Darwin racing tips, best odds & quaddie | Saturday, October 21
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Drive, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, October 21, 2023 |
| First Race | 2:23pm ACST |
It should be another competitive day of racing in Darwin with 50 horses accepting for the six-race meeting. For the first time since April 27, Darwin received rain (1.6mm) on October 6 and although no further rain has fallen since, there’s the chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday. It will be mostly sunny on Friday, but come Saturday partly cloudy conditions and a top temperature of 34C is forecast. There will be light north-west to north-east winds and a 30 per cent chance of rain. The rail will be in the true position and Fannie Bay will once again be a good surface.
BEST BET: Patriotic King
Patriotic King took a while to find his feet in the Top End after debuting in June after arriving from the Gold Coast stable of Toby and Trent Edmonds. Never in the picture when sixth over 1000m and fifth over 1100m at 0-58 level before finishing fifth over 1100m in 0-66 grade in July during the Darwin Cup Carnival. The five-year-old gelding improved when third over 1200m against 0-58 opposition on July 29 and on August 7. The son of Starspangledbanner returned a month later to stun his rivals by 9.8 lengths when he led throughout as the +190 favourite in BM54 class en route to breaking the 1100m track record (1.01.84). Carrying the same weight and although jumping from a wide gate, Patriotic King is the one to beat.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#1 Patriotic King (7)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59kg)
NEXT BEST: Rising Fire
Rising Fire was second in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and third in the NT Derby (2050m) for Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey last year, but the son of Headwater has yet to win a race in the Top End in six attempts. Returned to Darwin in July and was placed under the guidance of trainer Tom Logan where he has managed a second over 1600m (0-58), a third over 1300m (0-62) and a last start fourth over 1300m (0-58) as a -133.33 favourite on September 23. He did finish fourth over 1700m (0-64) on Katherine Cup Day on August 19. Has been transferred to the stable of Garry Lefoe, who has returned from suspension, and might have too much class for his rivals on Saturday.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
#1 Rising Fire (6)
5yo Gelding | T: Garry Lefoe | J: Paul Shiers (60kg)
NEXT BEST AGAIN: Prince Ruban
Prince Ruban can give a serious yelp after finishing strongly over 1300m at Benchmark 54 level when third in his Fannie Bay return a fortnight ago. The six-year-old gelding finished fifth over 1600m (0-64) on New Year’s Eve before having three starts in Victoria for Cranbourne trainer Shane Bottomley where he finished unplaced on each occasion. The son of Prince Of Dubai has a healthy record in Darwin having posted six wins and three thirds from 20 appearances, while his record over 1600m stands at eight starts for three wins and a third. The way he rallied home on October 7 suggests that the extra 300m could suit this weekend as he attempts to win his first race since Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Next Best Again
Race 5 – 
#1 Prince Ruban (7)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)
Darwin Saturday quaddie tips – 21/10/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, October 21, 2023
- 1-4-8
- 1-2
- 1-2-3
- 1-4-5