The King’s Birthday Weekend fixture at Fannie Bay today heralds the start of weekly racing in the Top End leading up to the first day of the Darwin Cup Carnival in four weeks’ time.
As predicted, the field sizes have increased dramatically from the most recent meeting a fortnight ago, and some 57 horses have accepted for the six races on the card. A handful of scratchings will be required, however, with just 10 riders in attendance at the meeting, but a few additions to the riding ranks are expected in the next week or two which will be a godsend, given the fact that Darwin run 12-horse fields from all barriers and there are currently four senior riders on the injured list.
The day’s feature is the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap, a Benchmark 76 1100m, and although just six horses will do battle, there is plenty of interest in the line-up. Rising Sphere, who is fresh-up from a six-month break, is a smart sprinter at best and actually won his last start on 8 December. He has won eight times from 32 starts and now a rising 7yo, this could be his year. He can on occasions be a little slow into stride, so he will have to be on his game from the inside draw, but Jarrod Todd knows him well and the Gary Clarke-trained son of Exosphere should be very hard to beat.
Topweight Cielo D’Oro is also resuming from a break – he last raced on 23 February when fourth behind Bel’s Banner and company. He has 60kg to carry – 3.5kg more than Rising Sphere – but he is a proven weight-carrier and seldom goes a bad race. Stablemate Star Magnum is another consistent sprinter, and he had a recent trial outing to further fit him for this assignment. Mr Have A Chat, a last-start winner in 0-64 grade, is taking on stronger company here but from an inside draw of two, he is not the worst. Hallowed Ground is a newcomer to Darwin in the Neil Dyer stable, and although lightly-raced, has won four times, twice at this trip. Hamlet Von Snitzel completes the line-up, and after going a good race first-up in the NT, disappointed somewhat last time out on Anzac Day. He would need to improve to feature in the finish.
The Territory Punter of the Year 3yo Handicap is another interesting affair, with topweight Beyond Ready the testing material for his rivals.
Kevin Lamprecht’s chestnut son of More Than Ready has had four starts in the Red Centre since relocating from Victoria, and has won twice and been placed second and third. His last-start win came on AS Cup Day (7 April) when he donkey-licked his rivals over this trip in a similar grade. Aaron Sweeney retains the mount and from an inside draw, he should prove very hard to beat as he continues his preparation for the Darwin Guineas (1600m) on 6 July.
Miama Vice looks the hardest for Beyond Ready to beat. Phil Cole’s son of Shalaa has won his last two starts, showing plenty of grit on both occasions. This is a good deal harder than his recent races but he possesses plenty of talent, and will need to be at his best when jumping from a barrier draw of nine. Starton is a newcomer to the Top End in the Kerry Petrick stable, and while still a maiden, has a second, two thirds and a fourth from just five outings in Victoria to his credit. Paul Denton takes the mount. Bryce is a last-start winner at Stony Creek, and now in the Phil Cole stable, he showed enough in a recent trial to rate a chance in this line-up.
The weather in the Top End is glorious, with the Dry Season well and truly here and temperatures, both day and night, perfect. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming east to south-easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach 29 degrees during the day, and a rather chilly (for this part of the world), but still pleasant, 16 overnight.
The first on the card gets underway at the mid-afternoon time of 1.54pm (NT time), which is 2.24pm in Sydney and Melbourne, while the last of the six races on the programme is timed to go at 4.51pm (NT time), or 5.21pm in the south eastern states.
BEST BETS
R3, No.9 – RHESUS
Two seconds and two fourth placings from just five starts point to this 3yo son of Lonhro having his share of ability. Having his first Top End start here but did trial well on 28 June, scoring impressively and running a decent time. Drawn awkwardly but will come in a couple of places, although will still jump from an outside gate. That said, showed enough in the trial to warrant solid respect here, and apprentice rider in top form of late. Can overcome any impediments to make a winning Darwin debut.
R4, No.1 – BEYOND READY
Smart AS-trained 3yo being prepared for the Guineas in a month’s time. Having his first start at Fannie Bay but comes off four top efforts in the Red Centre, including two wins, the most recent on AS Cup Day on 7 April when he scored at this trip by over six lengths. Drawn a nice gate and Aaron Sweeney stays aboard. Will be very hard to beat.
R5, No.4 – RISING SPHERE
Fresh-up here, having not raced since winning on 8 December over this trip. Has shown plenty of talent in his 32 starts to date, winning eight times, and now a rising 7yo, should be able to fulfil his earlier promise. Can be a little tardy from the start on occasions, so Jarrod Todd will need to have his wits about him from the inside gate. Looks well placed to make a winning return here.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 3, 7, 1, 2
RACE 2 – 4, 6, 1, 3
RACE 3 – 9, 4, 11, 7
RACE 4 – 1, 3, 4, 2
RACE 5 – 4, 1, 2, 5
RACE 6 – 8, 4, 7, 3
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