Star mare Dakota Lee again steps out in Alice Springs today, as the club continues its fortnightly racing schedule during the winter months. This meeting is the third fixture held in the Red Centre in June, while the club will race twice in July and twice more in August before three meetings per month becomes the norm from September.
A total of 39 horses have accepted for the five races, with three six-horse fields and two 10-horse line-ups (the opener has 11 acceptors but only ten riders will be available on the day).
Dakota Lee, trained by Terry Gillett, is something of a cult hero in the Alice, having never been beaten from nine starts on the track. She is a star in every sense of the word, and safely through today’s PFD Food Services Handicap over 1100m, she will make the 1500km trek to Darwin to contest the $135,000 bet365 Palmerston Sprint, the Territory’s richest sprint race, over 1200m on 3 August.
She has raced twice in Alice Springs this year, winning on AS Cup Day (7 April) by 1.3 lengths from Doc O’Connor and Brat, and then on 16 June when she downed Flying Start and Supreme Times by 3.5 lengths and more. She also established a new track record that day for the Pioneer Park 1200m, timed to run the trip in 1:07.85.
Stan Tsaikos rode Dakota Lee last time and has only missed riding her on three occasions from her ten career starts. Needless to say, he is unbeaten on the daughter of Kuroshio and will be looking to keep that imposing record intact today.
She takes on Flying Start again, who was really good when chasing her home last time in his first start for 11 months. He can be expected to have improved but will certainly have his work cut out to turn the tables on the mare. Supreme Times is a good sprinter and a stablemate of the favourite, while another stable companion is Morgenstern, who had his first start in Alice behind Dakota Lee on 16 June, finishing sixth of 10. He is another who should be improved for that outing.
The day’s other feature is the Alice Springs Toyota Handicap, an Average Benchmark affair over 1400m.
Gillett’s Altar Boy has won his last two at this trip, albeit in lower grade, but looks primed to make it three on end here. He was formerly trained in Far North Queensland by Sarah Acornley, and also had a stint in Brisbane with Stuart Kendrick before making his way to the Red Centre. He seems to be thriving on his new surrounds and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t continue on his winning way.
Hardest for Altar Boy to beat might be stablemate Valley Prince, who has been placed second at his last two assignments and has a liking for this trip of 1400m, while Zoustorm and Castlereagh Kid are others with a hope.
The weather in the Red Centre has been fine of late, but a cool change is expected today, with some showers forecast. The official forecast for today is: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature should get to 19 degrees during the day, and it will be ten overnight, with possible rainfall of 1-10mm.
The first on the card gets underway at 2.50pm (NT time), which is 3.20pm in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, while the last of the five races on the programme is timed to go at 4.55pm (NT time), or 5.25pm in the south eastern states.
BEST BETS
R2, No.4 – ARROGANT MISS
Capable mare who was doing her best work late when runner-up to Delago Lad here a fortnight ago. That was 1100m and the extra 100m today should be to her liking. Takes on Delago Lad again but meets him 2kg better for a defeat of 2.8 lengths. Dan Morgan’s mare is the winner of eight races on the Pioneer Park track and can make it nine here in this small field.
R4, No.1 – DAKOTA LEE
Top-class sprinter who is unbeaten from nine starts on this course, and has only had her colours lowered once, and that was at Moonee Valley. Goes up significantly in weight from her last-start win a fortnight ago but facing similar opposition and hard to see her being beaten. She still has a few tricks at the start but seems to be much improved from earlier days. On target for the Palmerston Sprint in Darwin in a month’s time, and should just win again.
R5, No.4 – ALTAR BOY
Has really hit his straps since making Alice Springs home after earlier being prepared in Far North Queensland. Has won his last two with ease, both over this distance of 1400m, and although up in grade for this assignment, does not take on a stellar line-up here with just five rivals. Stan Tsaikos retains the mount and although drawn the outside, should be able to come across and take up a spot and looks the testing material again.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 8, 2, 9, 1
RACE 2 – 4, 2, 1, 3
RACE 3 – 4, 1, 2, 5
RACE 4 – 1, 4, 3, 5
RACE 5 – 4, 5, 6, 1
Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au