Wednesday’s Darwin racing tips & value bets | July 13, 2022
| What | Bridge Toyota Ladies’ Day |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Wednesday, July 13, 2022 |
| First Race | 1:54pm ACST |
The Bridge Toyota Cup is the featured race on Ladies’ Day as the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival continues this Wednesday. HorseBetting’s NT racing analyst has gone through every event on the card on picked out his best bets for the day.
Race 1 (2.24pm) – $24,000 Silk Laser Clinics Handicap (1100m)
Ideas Man is in terrific form and is aiming for three straight wins. A close second on his Darwin debut over 1100m (0-64) on May 7 was followed by a six-length win over 1000m (0-70) on June 4 and a narrow victory over 1000m (0-76) when he flashed home late on June 25. The four-year-old gelding from South Australia makes the step up to open company in his quest to qualify for the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) and most of his rivals on Wednesday have the Sprint in their sights as well. Ideas Man is clearly in good form, but Harpuna should keep him honest after dead-heating last start in his Top End debut over 1100m (0-70) on July 2. Niewand won over 1000m in open company on June 18 and Our Luca returns after a fruitful Alice Springs Cup Carnival. Royal Tyke hasn’t been far away since arriving from Victoria.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#3 Ideas Man (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Paul Shiers (57kg)
Race 2 (2.57pm) – $20,000 Karen Brown Fine Art 0-66 Handicap (1100m)
Star Of Monsoon hasn’t done much wrong in Darwin since returning from a moderate Alice Springs Cup Carnival campaign. Two seconds over 1100m (May 21) and 1200m (June 4) at 0-54 level was followed by an impressive win over 1100m (0-62) on June 25. The eight-year-old gelding, who has established himself in the NT after campaigning in NSW and South Australia, is up in grade and won’t necessarily have everything go his way in what should be a highly competitive race. Rising Sphere makes his Top End debut and produced a decent trial on June 29. Little Town Blues was a last start sixth after winning over 1200m (0-64) on May 21. Canton Kid has the benefit of a 3kg claim after finishing second behind Star Of Monsoon on June 25. Barragunda, Mister Monaro and Signor Fangio are very much in major contention.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#4 Star Of Monsoon (6)
8yo Gelding | T: John Peacock | J: Adam Nicholls (60kg)
Race 3 (3.32pm) – $20,000 Toyota Finance 0-62 Handicap (1300m)
New Roman ended 2021 and started 2022 in good form at Fannie Bay. A win over 1200m (Class 2) on December 11 was followed by a second over 1100m (0-64) on New Year’s Day and a win over 1300m (0-64) on January 15. He didn’t do much after that before heading to Alice Springs and Tennant Creek where his only highlight was a third over 1200m (0-70) at Tennant Creek. Three starts back in Darwin failed to bear fruit before losing narrowly to Brimarvi Rooboy over 1300m (0-58) on July 2. The five-year-old gelding may have found his mojo and is a threat if he can replicate that effort. Tony’s Reward finished third in that race on July 2 and is in the mix. Elmore Lad hasn’t been far away in three Darwin starts and drops in grade. Smartkap is good enough to pose a threat. A 3kg claim opens the door for Zou Der Zee.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 New Roman (4)
5yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Shiers (58.5kg)
Race 4 (4.07pm) – $30,000 Fusion Exhibition Rose Bowl 0-70 Handicap (1300m)
Noble War has won four of her past six starts and is aiming for her third straight win in the feature race for the fillies and mares during Darwin Cup Carnival. The four-year-old mare led from start to finish en route to an emphatic last start win over 1200m (0-66) on June 25 and using that effort as a guide she will give her rivals plenty to think about. Swing With Junior is also aiming for three straight wins after a first up second over 1000m (Class 2) on May 28. The Victorian goes into the race with wins over 1100m (0-58) in June before saluting over 1200m (0-62) against her own sex on July 2. Noble War gets the nod having raced before over 1300m. Valentina Star boasts a respectable record in the higher grades and is definitely capable of spoiling the party. Bel’s Banner isn’t out if it, while Madam Mischief can spring a big surprise.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#2 Noble War (9)
4yo Mare | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (59kg)
Race 5 (4.42pm) – $20,000 Silks Darwin Class 2 Handicap (1600m)
Lady Whistledown has yet to win a race after 11 starts, but featured in four races in Victoria from 1600-2000m before arriving in the Top End. Therefore, the three-year-old filly has the miles in the legs and subsequently it came as no surprise she finished third in her Darwin debut over 1600m (0-64) against fellow three-year-olds on July 2. It was a performance full of merit which suggests that she might just find that extra gear on Wednesday. Lady Whistledown is by no means over the line, but the likes of We Will Remember and Real Devine will have to deliver the goods to prevent the Unencumbered filly from saluting. We Will Remember is better than average, but has yet to race over 1600m. Real Devine was a last start fourth in that three-year-old race on July 2. Qualis, Weapon Of Love and Lunar Mach are the best of the others.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#7 Lady Whistledown (1)
3yo Filly | T: Stephen Brown | J: Sonja Wiseman (55kg)
Race 6 (5.20pm) – $50,000 Bridge Toyota 0-76 Cup (1600m)
Dominus arrived in Darwin via NSW, Victoria and South Australia, and basically stretched his legs when he finished fifth behind champion Top End sprinter The Captain in open company over 1200m on June 11. Come next start over 1600m (0-70) on June 25, the five-year-old gelding sat five wide for the first 400m before assuming the lead in the back straight and was never headed before winning by six lengths. To add cream to the cake, Dominus (61kg) broke the track record for the 1600m by clocking 1.34.22 and no wonder he is now a serious threat in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 1. Clearly the one to beat on Wednesday. Giant Leap and Starouz are tipped to attract serious support from punters. Saccharo is a proven performer in Melbourne and Adelaide, and has been placed in two Darwin starts over 1200m (0-79) and 1300m (Open). Magnossiva and Pembroke Castle are definitely serious lightweight hopes.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#2 Dominus (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Adam Nicholls (58.5kg)