Darwin racing tips & free quaddie picks | Saturday, February 4
| What | Australia Day Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, February 4, 2023 |
| First Race | 2:44pm ACST |
The Darwin Turf Club hosts five races at Fannie Bay on Saturday with a $21,525 Benchmark 76 Handicap (1300m) the feature event. Heat 4 of the Summer Sprint Series 0-64 Handicap (1100m) is also on the menu. The week has been a mixture of hot weather and rain, a typical trait at this time of year. Since Sunday there has been 58mm of rain in the Top End. There is a forecast of possible thunderstorms on Friday with a 50 per cent chance of rain (1-5mm) and a top temperature of 31C. It’s predicted to be mostly sunny on Saturday with a 50 per cent of rain (1-5mm) and a top temperature of 33C. The rail will be in the true position and the track will be a good surface.
Best Bet at Darwin: Canton Kid
Canton Kid came across a hot one on Australia Day when finishing second behind Fromthenevernever over 1000m (0-64). Canton Kid trailed the winner by 3.3 lengths, but he also left the other runners in his wake to suggest that he can make a serious statement on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding will not have to contend with Fromthenevernever, who would have put just about any horse that raced on January 26 to the sword, on this occasion and his last two runs have been full of merit. On December 31, the son of Written Tycoon returned from a spell and travelled wide throughout after jumping from gate 10 before finishing strongly for fifth over 1100m (0-64). Prior to spending almost four months in the paddock, Canton Kid was victorious over 1100m (BM54) on September 3. The gelding has had 14 starts in Darwin and one Katherine start, and although his only other win in the NT was achieved when he debuted at Fannie Bay over 1100m (0-64) in May 2021 the former NSW galloper rarely puts in a bad performance. Quoted as a $2.80 favourite during the week with online bookmakers, a 3kg claim will help his cause.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#3 Canton Kid (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Jade Hampson (a3) (59kg)
Next Best at Darwin: One For Anna
One For Anna looked great out in front over 1000m (BM54) on January 14 before shifting outwards under pressure in the home straight to finish third behind Brazenpine and Colhoun, who swooped along the rails to make it a quinella for trainer Phil Cole. Brazenpine and Colhoun are in pretty good, so One For Anna was far from disgraced, but there’s every chance the four-year-old mare could have got the cash had she maintained a straight course. The daughter of Super One had nine starts in NSW and was placed in three of her last four starts before leaving the Paul Murray stable and heading to Darwin. A seventh in her NT debut over 1100m (Class 2) on Melbourne Cup Day was followed by a win in an 1100m maiden on December 3. One For Anna then made it back to back fourths over 1000m (0-58) in December before her last start minor placing three weeks ago. The mare lumped 57.5kg on January 14, but with a 4kg claim she drops to 52.5kg this weekend thus giving her prospects a major boost.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#4 One For Anna (3)
4yo Mare | T: Chris Nash | J: Lek Maloney (a4)(56.5kg)
Best Value at Darwin: Courageous Hearts
Courageous Hearts has yet to run a place in two Darwin starts since arriving from SA, but managed to finish fourth on two occasions at Fannie Bay over 1100m (BM54) on December 3 – Heat 3 of the Lightning Wet Season Series – and over 1000m (BM54) behind Brazenpine, Colhoun and One For Anna on Australia Day. The four-year-old gelding had 15 starts in SA and finished in the top four on seven occasions before winning at the 14th attempt in a 1000m maiden at Morphettville Parks in late August. That’s after claiming two seconds in two 1100m maidens at Morphettville last February and April. The son of Akeed Mofeed had his final start for Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas in October and was a disappointing 10th over 1100m (Class 2) at Gawler. Courageous Hearts carried 59kg in his first NT start, but he seems to be finding his feet after settling at the back of the field before running on solidly at his last start with 61.5kg on his back. He was quoted at $10 earlier in the week and will surely benefit from a 4kg claim.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#3 Courageous Hearts (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Emma Lines (a4) (61kg)
Darwin quaddie tips for Saturday
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, February 4, 2023
- 3-4-5
- 2-3-4-5
- 2-3-4
- 2-4
Investment: $72 for 100%