Saturday’s Darwin racing tips & top value bets – March 18, 2023
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, March 18, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:04pm ACST |
It’s St Patrick’s Day Cup Day and with good prizemoney it’s arguably the biggest meeting outside Cup Carnival for the Darwin Turf Club. The St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) is the feature and is one of only two $40,000 races held in the Top End outside Cup Carnival. This year’s race has assembled a very even field, which is also the best way to describe the seven-event meeting on Saturday as there are plenty of chances in most of the races.
The Summer Sprint Series concludes with Heat 8, a $25,000 open handicap over 1300m, but the winner has been determined with Chris Pollard’s Cudjerie holding an unassailable lead. Since last Thursday, 14mm of rain had fallen in the past seven days. Partly cloudy conditions, along with a shower or two and a possible storm is the forecast for Friday and Saturday. There’s a 60-70 per cent chance of rain of up to 5mm, with a top temperature of 32C both days.
The rail will be in the true position and despite the rain the track will still be a good dirt surface.
Best Bet at Darwin: Del Viento
It may have only been a 1200m maiden on February 17, but Del Viento certainly made everyone take note by claiming victory by seven lengths in his Top End debut after posting a third and four fourths in nine starts in Victoria and NSW. The four-year-old gelding carried 59kg that day and could not have been more emphatic before a last start second over 1000m (Class 2) on March 4 in a heat of the National Apprentice Race Series. With WA apprentice Cassey Martinan on board, the son of Reward For Effort never left the fence before breaking clear of the pack in the home straight to set sail after runaway leader Doc O’Connor. Del Viento, a $1.85 favourite that day, stormed home and just missed finishing second and with Casey Hunter back in the saddle can certainly make amends on Saturday.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Del Viento (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Chloe Baxter | J: Casey Hunter (60kg)
Next Best at Darwin: Beau Flyer
Beau Flyer clearly confronted a good one on his NT debut on February 17 when seven lengths adrift of Del Viento in second place in a 1200m maiden. The five-year-old gelding had four starts in Queensland and one start in NSW before relocating north with his best efforts being a second in 1010m Ballina maiden on Boxing Day in 2021 and a third in a 1200m Gold Coast maiden last September. The son of Brazen Beau had pretty decent trial form with a win, three seconds and a third from 850-1200m, including a second and third at Doomben. You must treat the opposition respect, but if Beau Flyer is on his game he will take some stopping. Brave Fling, placed four times in seven Darwin starts, and Dreyfus pose a threat, but Beau Flyer did finish five lengths clear of the third horse on February 17.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
#1 Beau Flyer (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Wiseman (59kg)
Best Value at Darwin: Archie James
Archie James celebrated victory on debut in a 1200m Darwin maiden on Melbourne Cup Day before failing in his next two starts. The former Victorian galloper bounced back with comprehensive wins over 1200m (0-58) on January 14 and 1200m (Class 2) against the three and four-year-olds on February 10. The four-year-old gelding was desperately unlucky not to make it three straight wins two weeks ago when the saddle slipped in a heat of the National Apprentice Race Series before being overtaken right on the line to finish second by a nose behind Thunder Peak. The son of Toorak Toff was a certainty beaten. Hampson rode Thunder Peak that day, but gets the ride on Archie James with Emma Lines riding Phil Cole’s Vunivalu. Archie James steps up in grade, but is racing well and a light weight helps.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#6 Archie James (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Jade Hampson (a3) (56kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Darwin races – 18/4/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, March 18, 2023
- 2-3-6
- 2-3-10
- 1-4
- 1-2-8
Investment: $54 for 100%