The first of seven fortnightly meetings during the months of June, July and August in the Red Centre will be contested today, and an outstanding programme of seven races has been assembled. No less than two races were divided due to excellent nominations – the Class 2 1100m and the BM54 1400m – and a total of 64 acceptors were received for the meeting. With 11 riders in attendance, it should be a great day of action in the Alice.
The $25,000 feature is the last on the card, the Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup over 1400m. A field of nine will face the starter and in-form 7yo mare Desert Lass has the runs on the board which will make her very hard to beat again. The AS Cup runner-up subsequently won here over this trip and at this grade (BM76) on 5 May and following this race, will be heading north to Darwin for a tilt at some of the major Carnival races in the Top End, possibly culminating in a start in the Darwin Cup on the first Monday in August.
Apprentice Emma Lines, who rode Carrol Hunter’s mare last start, retains the mount and her 1.5kg apprentice allowance will mean Desert Lass will carry 59.5kg, a kilo more than when she beat Fantasy Eagle and Kickatorp four weeks ago.
She will not have it all her own way, however, with some well-performed opposition against her. An interesting runner is the Sale visitor Starspangled Baby, who won the Bairnsdale Cup over 1600m two starts back and has a pretty sound record overall. She is also on her way to Darwin and her trainer Andrew Perdon has taken the opportunity to give his 6yo mare a run on the sand in the Red Centre. Jarrod Todd takes the mount.
Veteran That’s Justified has won eight times over this trip, and 22 times all told, and can never be left out of calculations. Senior rider Stan Tsaikos renews his association with Terry Gillett’s grand old performer. Fantasy Eagle is another with claims of success, while topweight Castlereagh Kid is another who should be watched. The former Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper, now in the stable of Dan Morgan, has not started since December 2022, but if anywhere near his best, would take plenty of beating – he is a Caulfield Group II 1800m winner and has raced in some top company during his 10-start career, which has been plagued by injury.
The Ladbrokes Punter Assist Handicap, the 0-70 1000m event, provides Brat with another good opportunity to embellish his already good record of nine wins from 33 starts. He bolted in last time out over 1200m at Tennant Creek on 18 May, and although yet to win at this distance, possesses plenty of ability and should be hard to beat in this six-horse field. Dakota Gillett takes 2kg off his book weight of 61kg.
Red Wraith, who was in good form during the AS Cup Carnival, Befana, who was a well-beaten third behind Brat last time out, and Boy Big look best of the rest.
The weather in the Red Centre was unseasonal on Thursday, with rain falling, as much as 35mls. However, the weather front was expected to pass through fairly quickly, and no doubt the ASTC team would have had the track prepped for the precipitation. Yesterday was mainly fine and the forecast for today is for a lovely fine day with a top of 17 degrees and an overnight low of 5 degrees. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon.
The first on the card gets underway at 1.51pm (NT time), which is 2.21pm in Sydney and Melbourne, while the last of the seven races on the programme is timed to go at 5.21pm (NT time), or 5.51pm in the south eastern states.
BEST BETS
R1, No.3 – HELLO CAROL
Continues to race consistently and coming off a last-start second to Plague Stone, beaten a length and a-half, over this trip at Tennant Creek a fortnight ago. Won at her previous start this track and trip on 5 May, and will be more than competitive in this class 2 company. Drawn awkwardly but will appreciate the 2kg apprentice claim of Lek Maloney. Stable in good form and should make her presence felt again.
R2, No.1 – ONLY THE BEST
3yo having his third start in the Red Centre, and taking on some older opposition here. Was second first-up on 30 March in a three-horse line-up over this trip, then chased home Beyond Ready and Augusta Moon over 1200m on AS Cup Day. Looks to have above-average ability and Jade Hampson’s booking is significant, as is the 1.5kg apprentice claim. Drawn to get a good run in transit and should be right in the finish.
R5, No.2 – VALLEY PRINCE
Hasn’t won since a first-up victory this campaign, but has seldom gone a bad race in between times. Well beaten at Tennant Creek when third behind Hey Bull and Merseyside last time, but back on home ground over his favourite trip will be far more suitable. Drawn the outside of the seven runners, but has the speed to go forward and Dakota Gillett should be able to put him in a challenging position from the outset. Can bounce back to his best.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 3, 2, 1, 7
RACE 2 – 1, 4, 2, 7
RACE 3 – 8, 1, 2, 4
RACE 4 – 1, 2, 4, 3
RACE 5 – 2, 3, 5, 1
RACE 6 – 2, 1, 8, 3
RACE 7 – 4, 5, 3, 9
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