Darwin racing tips, top odds & value bets | Saturday, July 23
| What | Metric Mile Day 2022 |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, July 23, 2022 |
| First Race | 1:53pm ACST |
The Metric Mile takes centre stage at Fannie Bay this weekend on Day 6 of the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival. See our top selections for every race on the program, with odds from Australia’s best bookmakers.
Race 1 (1.53pm) – $20,000 TRNT Off The Track 0-58 Handicap (1200m)
The Mistral wasn’t all that far away when he finished third over 1000m (0-58) behind Expert Witness in his Top End debut on July 9. Had 14 starts for two wins for the Kim Waugh stable and was placed in four straight races from 1350-1412m in higher grade at Newcastle, Scone and Taree before the four-year-old gelding finished sixth over 1500m (Class 3) at Port Macquarie in his last NSW start. On his day New Roman is capable of anything and finished second over 1300m (0-58) two starts ago on July 2 before a last-start sixth over 1300m (0-62). The form guide doesn’t look all that flash, but consider Cassatt, Sweet Cheval, Latest Bentley and Vietti in your exotics. Cassatt had decent form at the start of the year, but just lacked the class when she returned against decent three-year-olds over 1100m (0-66) on July 9 after a three-month break.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#1 The Mistral (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)
Race 2 (2.29pm) – $40,000 Samsung TROBIS 3YO 0-68 Handicap (1200m)
First Crusade has starred since arriving in the NT and could not have been more emphatic when he led from start to finish to seal a five-length win against fellow three-year-olds over 1100m (0-66) a fortnight ago. It was an excellent trial for the feature sprint for the three-year-olds during the Darwin Cup Carnival and it followed two wins over 1100m (0-58), a second over 1100m (0-56) against his own age group and a third over 1100m (0-62). Super Famous was a handy Queensland performer and hasn’t done much wrong in Alice Springs and Darwin since early April – he has missed a place once in eight starts. Flying Start from Alice Springs has ability and can strike back after a disappointing seventh in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) on July 2. Western Australian runner Isola Bay boasts decent form but makes his first start at Fannie Bay.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#3 First Crusade (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Chloe Baxter | J: Casey Hunter (58.5kg)
Race 3 (3.09pm) – $20,000 Darwin Racing Maiden (1100m)
Umfana gets the nod, but only just, in a race where he is likely to encounter numerous challengers. The four-year-old gelding jumps from the inside gate and enjoys the luxury of a 3kg claim, which might be a big help after a last start seventh in a 1200m maiden on July 9. Umfana was placed in 1100m maidens in Strathalbyn and Bordertown in South Australia before finishing fourth on debut in Darwin in an 1100m maiden on June 11. Bold Tropic has arrived in the Top End and was by no means ordinary when he raced in Victoria. The same could be said of Laylah’s Wish when she raced in Queensland – a fourth in a 1400m maiden Gold Coast in February catches the eye. Henestrosa was thereabouts in Victoria before flopping on debut in Darwin (July 9). Consider Air Command, Minister, Fraction Late and Moats Corner.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#3 Umfana (1)
4yo Gelding | T: David Bates | J: Jade Hampson (59kg)
Race 4 (3.41pm) – $32,000 Novotel and Mercure Darwin Airport Flying Sprint (1100m)
Mighty Murt is racing well and in typical fashion stormed home from the rear of the field to record a last-start win over 1200m (0-76) on July 9. The four-year-old grey gelding took a while to get going when he arrived in Alice Springs from Victoria in June last year, but since then his consistency cannot be faulted. Mighty Murt then headed to the Top End in January and won three straight before finishing fourth – only to win at his next start. A second in Alice Springs was followed by a sixth back in Darwin before his last-start win. The winner of the race seals their ticket in the $135K Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on July 30, so the speed will be on. El Magnificence, Our Luca, Belmont Day are good enough to return to their winnings ways. Mister Monaro is a last-start winner. Royal Tyke hasn’t been that far away in four Darwin starts.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#4 Mighty Murt (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Denton (57kg)
Race 5 (4.19pm) – $20,000 TAB 0-66 Handicap (1000m)
Manly Cove has only had eight starts in Darwin since arriving from NSW in November 2020. The six-year-old gelding won three straight, but in his next three starts he didn’t fire a shot. A second to stablemate Global Wonder over 1100m (0-64) on June 11 was hopefully a sign he could be back to his best before a last-start fifth over 1100m (0-62) just two weeks later. Willing to give him another chance as he will jump from the inside gate and backs up after winning a 900m trial on Tuesday. Tsugaru is new to town and is bound to attract plenty of support after a win, a second and a third in his past three starts in Victoria. Telekinesis also debuts in Darwin and it’s hard to knock his Alice Springs form. Expert Witness is a last-start winner and has good Top End form but is up in grade. Kent Street, Rising Sphere and Sonic Arrow can surprise.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#5 Manly Cove (1)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (58.5kg)
Race 6 (4.55pm) – $20,000 Silks Gin And Jazz Night 0-70 Handicap (1600m)
Dataset brought respectable form from Alice Springs before making his rivals stand up and take notice when he led from start to finish over 1600m (0-66) last Saturday. It was a terrific win by the six-year-old gelding as he hadn’t raced for a month after coming third over 1400m (0-64). A solid performer in Victoria before arriving in the Red Centre in November 2020, Dataset was incredibly reliable before losing his way in three starts from March-May this year. Three wins in his past four starts is a sign that he is back in town. Obligatory is perhaps the biggest danger after two wins and three seconds in his past six starts at Fannie Bay. Raazou finished second in his first trip over 1600m (0-72) on July 2 and hasn’t finished out of a place in his past six runs. Jet Jackson bounced back to form last Saturday and just failed to catch Dataset.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#3 Dataset (1)
6yo Gelding | T: Jess Gleeson | J: Casey Hunter (59.5kg)
Race 7 (5.25pm) – $50,000 Metric Mile (1600m)
I Am The Fox is on a mission after finishing eighth in the Darwin Cup (2050m) last year. After a successful stint in Victoria, the eight-year-old gelding returned to the Top End in March last year to outclass his rivals in two 1600m starts before winning the Alice Springs Cup (2000m). He then finished second behind Highly Decorated in the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) before his Darwin Cup disappointment and then won the Katherine Cup (1700m) 12 days later. I Am The Fox had two runs in Melbourne late last year and upon his return to Darwin won over 1600m in March. It was off to Alice Springs, where he won over 1900m in open company in April 16 before finishing second behind Count Of Essex in the Alice Springs Cup in May. I Am The Fox is with a new stable and has a decent first-up record in Darwin. It’s the last hitout for Darwin Cup aspirants and for those hoping to qualify for the big race. Dominus, who broke the 1600m track record on June 25, drops 6kg after a last-start fourth behind Kaonic in the Bridge Toyota Cup (1600m) on July 13. Kaonic is getting another fine-tune before the Cup, while Magnossiva, Desert Lass and Starouz are each-way hopes. WA debutant Living The Dream cannot be underestimated.
Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#2 I Am The Fox (2)
8yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (60.5kg)