SENTrack: Greg Aldam's Saturday best bets for Darwin (21/09)

Racing returns to Fannie Bay on Saturday with a useful five race program which has 33 acceptances for the meeting.

The main event is the Bet365 Benchmark 76 sprint over 1200m which is race two on the card and it is a race where there looks to be plenty of depth to it, with a number of the runners being freshened since performing well during the recent Darwin Carnival.

One of those is the Jason Manning trained Bon's Pride who was an impressive winner over 1300m metres on Cup day in the $50,000 Magic Millions Tried Horse Race, which was a race for any horse that had been purchased out of the Magic Millions Sale in either Darwin or Alice Springs.

The son of Bon Aurum has been a revelation for the Manning stable with 4 wins and 4 placings from his 10 starts to date in the Top End and while this is his biggest test so far, he looks more than capable of taking the next step in a competitive line-up.

Leading trainer Gary Clarke will have say in the race no doubt as he has three runners engaged, including top weight Seguso who is on the quick back-up after being placed last week over this distance, last start winner Shakattak on the 31st of July over 1300 metres and also up and coming sprinter Pharoah Magic who went down narrowly over this trip on the 3rd of August.

Shakattak in particular has taken a real liking to the Fannie Bay surface, with the son of Shalaa running a slick time at his latest victory and on the fresh side today under the guidance of Jarrod Todd he will have his supporters.

Rounding out the field are two more than handy sprinters in Expert Witness and with the claim for in-form apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, he should be able to sit up on the pace giving him a genuine chance, whilst freshened up the Chris Pollard trained Kerioth has the credentials to turn around his below par showing in the Palmerston Sprint where he didn't get a lot of luck in running on that occasion.

Speaking of Hannah Le Blanc, the Victorian based apprentice has been enjoying plenty of success in both Darwin and Alice Springs of late and she appears to have a more than useful book of rides across the day.

They include three runners for trainer Chloe Baxter with To The Point kicking off the program and he was not far away last start over 1300 metres and in similar company today he should be in the mix.

The speedy Shecanmixit comes up in race four and if she handles the quick back-up her overall record in Darwin is solid, while possibly Le Blanc's best ride for the day come up in the last event where Siberian Larch will try to make it back to back victories.

The son of Russian Revolution has just taken a while to acclimatise to racing in the Top End. He interestingly started his career in Sha Tin but going off his impressive win over this distance three weeks ago, he looms as hard to beat in a similar grade once again and after the claim he does get in well at the weights.

Le Blanc's other ride is on Ny Kee in race four, who won her maiden last Saturday for the Phil Cole team and whilst this is a quick progression she could well be suited to the Fannie Bay surface.

First race is set to jump at 3.07pm local time, which is 3.37pm in the eastern states and we are set to have a top temperature of 33 degrees with a medium chance of showers throughout the day in typically humid conditions for this time of the year.

Best Bets

Race 3, No.2 - Yaki Ishi

The son of Maurice broke through for a deserved win over 1300m August 31st where he did work hard mid-race to find the lead before holding his opposition out on that occasion. Back in distance slightly here, however has drawn nicely to get a soft run and whilst this is tougher he will be given every chance by Adam Nicholls.

Race 4, No.1 - Change Is Coming

He has the propensity to mix his form at times, so he does need to be taken on trust that the real Change Is Coming turns up for this assignment. His best runs are usually while he is fresh, so 7 weeks since his last effort should suit and main stable rider Jarrod Todd has stuck with the son of Capitalist which does give you some confidence.

Race 5, No.1 - Siberian Larch

On paper as earlier suggested in the write-up it could well be Hannah Le Blanc's best ride for the day and she did steer this galloper to a decisive victory over this distance against similar company last start. Drawn ideally to put himself right on the speed once again, he should prove hard to catch in this line-up.

Selections

Race 1: 6-3-2-4
Race 2: 2-5-3-6
Race 3: 2-1-4-3
Race 4: 1-3-2-6
Race 5: 1-2-4-5

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