Darwin racing tips & free quaddie picks | Friday, February 17
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Friday, February 17, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:05pm ACST |
Twilight racing continues at Fannie Bay on Friday with the Darwin Turf Club hosting a competitive five-event program on the dirt. It should once again be an unpredictable afternoon for punters with many runners bringing good form to the table. A total of 35 horses have accepted with Heat 6 of the Summer Sprint Series (1000m) for the 0-64 grade being one of three high-profile races scheduled. There has been up to 59mm of rain since last Friday’s meeting at Fannie Bay, but there was no rain on Wednesday and Thursday. Humid and partly cloudy conditions have been forecast for Friday with a top temperature of 33C. There’s a 20 per cent chance of rain with showers or a thunderstorm tipped for the afternoon or evening. The rail will be in the true position and the track will be a good surface.
Best Bet at Darwin: Lucky Dog
Lucky Dog has hardly put a foot wrong since arriving in the Top End and recent form suggests that the five-year-old gelding is primed to finally deliver the goods at Fannie Bay at the seventh attempt. The son of Time For War looked a winning chance half way down the home straight in the $40,000 Wet Season Series Final (1200m) on Australia Day before being trumped by the fast-finishing Zoumist. It was a big step up in grade for Lucky Dog (0-70) and although he only lumped 54.5kg he did jump from barrier 10, so his performance was certainly full of merit. Stepping back in grade, the former South Australian galloper has a better gate (4) – however he has been allotted an extra 4.5kg. Debuting in the NT on October 15, Lucky Dog managed a fourth over 1100m (BM54) before a second over 1300m (0-58) on November 1 and a fourth over 1200m (BM54) on November 12. A second over 1000m (0-58) on New Year’s Eve was followed by another second over 1200m (0-58) before a last start second on January 26, so with that in mind he is definitely a hope as he strives to make it four career wins from 26 starts.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#6 Lucky Dog (4)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Pollard | J: Stan Tsaikos (59kg)
Next Best at Darwin: Raazou
Raazou has only had two starts over 1600m – both at Fannie Bay during the Darwin Cup Carnival last July. With 55.5kg, the five-year-old gelding finished second behind Tugga War at BM72 level before finishing eighth (59.5kg) behind Dataset at 0-70 level. A sixth behind Bat Pad over 1100m (0-70) when he returned from a spell on Melbourne Cup Day was followed by a seven length win over 1200m (0-64) before succumbing to Siakam by a nose over 1300m (BM76) on February 4. The son of Zoustar has had eight other starts in the Top End for three additional wins and in two of those races he was victorious over 1300m last March (0-58) and last May (0-64). Apart from finishing third in another race over 1300m (BM76) last June, Raazou had two races beyond 1300m in Victoria for a 13th over 1330m (BM64) at Geelong and a ninth over 1400m (BM58) on the Ballarat synthetic surface. Raazou is clearly the best horse in the race and returns after a two week break, while Halogem (1st) and Meadows Young Buck (2nd) are backing up after clashing over 1600m (0-64) just seven days ago.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#1 Raazou (5)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59kg)
Next Best Again at Darwin: Cielo D’oro
Returning from a spell on five occasions, Cielo D’Oro has posted three wins. The six-year-old gelding has spent the past three months in the paddock and the likes of Mr Cashman, Saccharo, Vunivalu, Spielberg and Mini Boom will provide a solid test. The son of Medaglia D’Oro, who has managed two wins, two seconds and a third at Moonee Valley in the past, has had six starts at Fannie Bay boasting respectable form. A last start third over 1200m (BM64) at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve in 2021 was followed up by a first up win at Darwin over 1000m (BM76) in late August. A fourth over 1200m (BM76) in September was followed by a two length win over 1100m (BM71) on October 1. A narrow second behind Expert Witness over 1000m (BM76) on October 22 was followed by another second in open company over 1300m on Melbourne Cup Day when the handy Noir De Rue, third and fourth in the past two Darwin Cups, won by six lengths. Cielo D’Oro was second once again over 1200m (BM70) on November 19 when Mr Cashman, a last start winner on Australia Day, won by 4.5 lengths.
Next Best Again
Race 2 – 
#2 Cielo D’oro (4)
6yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Wayne Davis (59kg)
Darwin quaddie tips – 17/2/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Friday, February 17, 2023
- 2-3-5
- 1-3-4-6
- 1-2
- 1-3-5
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