SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Darwin (20/07)

Day 4 of the Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival comes up for decision at Fannie Bay today, and full fields have been assembled for the meeting’s two features, the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby and the $50,000 BTC Constructions Buntine Handicap. Both are over the Darwin Cup trip of 2050m, the former for the 3yos and the Buntine for the older horses, and both offer the winner ballot exemption into the $200,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup on the first Monday in August.

Darwin Guineas winner He’s Maverick, trained by popular Strathalbyn trainer Kym Healy and to be ridden by Sonja Logan – who rode the 2021 Derby winner Sanblas for fellow South Australian trainer Heather Lehmann – looks a leading hope yet again. He was very strong at the finish of the 1600m of the Guineas, getting up in the final couple of strides to down Super Defense, and the extra 450m looks well within his scope. He has put three wins back-to-back, one in Alice Springs on 6 April before two Darwin victories over 1300m and 1600m in the past month, and can go on with his good form and carry off the biggest 3yo race in the Territory.

Super Defense, from the Tayarn Halter stable and with apprentice Jade Hampson to ride, should again give He’s Maverick plenty of opposition. He has raced over 2100m previously in NSW and while out of the placings there, he gives every indication that the trip will be suitable. He was given a lovely ride in the Guineas but has drawn a little more awkwardly this time, so his talented rider will need to be on her game to secure her mount the best run possible in the Derby.

Gifted Gamer is an interesting runner in the stable of Sheila Arnold. Formerly trained by Patrick Payne, he was sent north just last week to target the Derby and his Victorian form would certainly be good enough as long as he has come through the long trip and can handle the sand and oil-based surface.

He won at Seymour back in mid-April, but his last four starts have been in some quality metropolitan events, finishing third at Caulfield over a mile, fourth at Sandown over the same trip, then fifth at Flemington, again at 1600m before a seventh, beaten 5.6 lengths, back at Flemington over 2000m on 22 June. He will be ridden by Mark Pegus and he should not be left out of calculations.

There are a number of others in the Derby with hopes, including Rhesus, who was third in the Guineas, Better Not Fuss (fourth), Bryce (fifth) as well as Esskay, Masatora and last-start winner Frankfurt. Unquestionably, who disappointed in the Guineas, will have the services of Noel Callow this time and Neil Dyer knows a thing or two about winning this race, so he should be kept safe as well.

In the Buntine, Son Of Bielski and Starspangled Baby are backing up from unplaced efforts in the Chief Minister’s Cup a week ago, and should both be allowed another chance.

Son Of Bielski, who had won his previous six races in Darwin, never got into the race at any stage but has come through the run in great order and trainer Chris Nash has elected to send him around again today – he could easily bounce back and is better suited in this handicap than he was at weight-for-age. The distance is a query – he has not previously started over further than 1800m – but he gives the impression that he should handle the trip adequately.

Starspangled Baby, after a good fourth in the ROANT Cup, could only manage sixth in the Chief Minister’s, beaten over 11 lengths after sitting outside the leader in the run. She has form over this distance and can make her presence felt in a race that does not possess the opposition that she raced just seven days ago.

Hadouken is stepping up in grade and needs to win this to secure a Darwin Cup start. He did a good job when scoring in an Average Benchmark 1600m on 6 July and has the services of Jarrod Todd this time – apprentice Jasper Franklin rode Hadkouken for his master Peter Robl on Day 1 of the Carnival.

Others with a hope include Venting, the AS Cup winner who excels over this trip; Ziggi Rocks, second to Hadouken last time; Grinzinger Bishop and A Big Chance.

The weather in the Top End, as usual at this time of the year, is absolutely perfect. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds. The temperature is forecast to reach 30 degrees during the day, and a slightly chilly 16 overnight.

The first on the card gets underway at 1.46pm (NT time), which is 2.16pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last of the seven races on the programme is timed to go at 5.20pm (NT time), or 5.50pm in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R3, No.5 - SPACESHIP
Highly-progressive sprinter in the Gary Clarke stable. Three starts in Darwin to date have resulted in three impressive wins, and his last, after being slowly into stride, was arguably his best in open handicap company on 15 June. Steps up again here to weight-for-age conditions but has done everything right, and safely through this, will be a favourite for the Palmerston on 3 August. Should be winning again.

R6, No.2 - SON OF BIELSKI
Forget he went round in the Chief Minister’s Cup last week. Had won his previous six starts in Darwin but nothing went right in the 1600m feature seven days ago, and trainer Chris Nash has elected to back him up over the Cup trip of 2050m. Has drawn the inside gate and will hopefully get a far better run in transit than last time, when he was off the track in a track record run. Can bounce back to his best.

R7, No.7 - HE’S MAVERICK
Guineas winner who is looking to complete the Darwin Double and earn his connections an additional $50,000 bonus. Has won both his Top End starts this campaign, and was impressive when scoring a narrow win in the Guineas a fortnight ago. Trip looks tailor-made for him and Sonja Logan retains the mount for SA visitor Kym Healy. Drawn awkwardly but gets back in his races, and should be hitting the line solidly whereas some of his rivals might not. Big chance to complete the 3yo double.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 1, 2, 3, 4
RACE 2 – 3, 5, 2, 1
RACE 3 – 5, 2, 4, 1
RACE 4 – 1, 2, 5, 3
RACE 5 – 1, 11, 10, 2
RACE 6 – 2, 6, 4, 9
RACE 7 – 7, 10, 6, 3

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