Saturday’s Darwin racing tips & top value bets – March 4, 2023
| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, March 4, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:04pm ACST |
The Darwin Turf Club will host five races this Saturday afternoon, attracting 42 acceptors in total. In what shapes as an excellent meeting, two of the races will feature the top young riders from throughout Australia as Fannie Bay hosts Heat 1 of the 2023 National Apprentice Race Series.
They last raced at Darwin on February 17, and from February 15-20 it didn’t rain a drop in the Top End. In the nine-day period from February 21–March 1, 368mm of rain was recorded at Darwin airport. By Thursday, 456mm of rain had fallen at Fannie Bay in the last seven days. Further showers (5-35mm) and windy conditions were forecast for Friday, but come Saturday partly cloudy conditions are predicted with a medium chance of showers (0-3mm) and a top temperature of 32C.
The rail will be in the true position and, despite the rain, the track will still be a good dirt surface. Racing is set to get underway at 3:04pm local time.
Best Bet: Archie James
Archie James boasted respectable form in 10 starts in Victoria before winning a 1200m maiden on debut at Fannie Bay on Melbourne Cup Day last year. The four-year-old gelding then finished fourth over 1200m (Class 2) on December 9 before coming sixth over 1300m (Class 2) on New Year’s Eve. The son of Toorak Toff has started 2023 excellently with two wins after sharing the lead once settling into stride before blowing his rivals away in the home straight. Victory by 2.5 lengths over 1200m (0-58) on January 14 after jumping from gate one was followed by an emphatic win by 4.5 lengths over 1200m against fellow four-year-olds at Class 2 level from gate three. The in-form Sonja Wiseman piloted Archie James to those two wins, and with fellow Top End rider Emma Lines in the saddle it can only enhance his prospects of making it three straight wins. Another favourable gate is also a bonus.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Archie James (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Emma Lines (a)(59kg)
Next Best: Ankle Rolex
Ankle Rolex only had three starts for two wins and steps up to open company for the first time against the three- and four-year-olds. The three-year-old gelding is every chance of making the trip to the Red Centre for the NT Guineas (1600m) during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival in April, so it’s safe assume that he has been set for this race. After a first-up win over 1100m by 2.5 lengths against fellow three-year-olds at a Class 2 level and maiden performers on New Year’s Eve, the son of Cable Bay stepped up to 0-58 class over 1200m and seemed to lose his way before finishing fifth – albeit he was only 1.5 lengths behind the winner. Taking on the same opposition he faced on December 31, but this time over 1200m, Ankle Rolex was $1.24 leading up to the race, before securing victory by 6.5 lengths as a $1.30 favourite. He does face decent opposition on Saturday, but the 3kg claim is a significant factor.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#5 Ankle Rolex (5)
3yo Gelding | T: Patrick Johnston | J: Jade Hampson (a)(54kg)
Best Value: Brother Bassy
Arriving in the Top End from NSW, where he had three wins and nine minor placings from 20 starts, this six-year-old gelding finished third on debut over 1000m (0-70) on April 14 before saluting over 1200m (0-64) on Anzac Day. The son of Benfica was far from disgraced when third over 1300m (BM76) on May 21, but in his next four starts in 2022 his best effort was a fifth. Brother Bassy started in the Wet Season Series Final over 1200m (0-70) on Australia Day and was a distant last in the 10-horse field in the back straight before winding up turning for home to finish sixth behind Zoumist. On February 4, he carried 2.5kg less over 1300m (BM76) and settled third on the fence before making ground on the leaders in the home straight to finish a narrow third (0.6 lengths) behind Siakam and Raazou. Winning won’t be easy, but he has 55kg once again and also has a good gate.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#8 Brother Bassy (3)
6yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Wayne Davis (55kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Darwin races – 3/4/2023
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, March 4, 2023
- 1-2-3-6
- 2-3
- 1-2-3-4
- 2-5
Investment: $64 for 100%