SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Sunday best bets at Alice Springs (06/10)

Racing returns to Ladbrokes Pioneer Park for the second successive week with a five-race card today. It is the second of three straight meetings in the Red Centre – a further meeting is scheduled for Saturday 12 October. Some 42 horses have accepted for the fixture, with all horses having riders engaged and therefore expected to run.

The feature, and smallest field of the day, is the last, the TRNT Off The Track Handicap, an Average Benchmark affair over 1600m. Leading trainers Terry Gillett and Kerry Petrick have two runners apiece, while Paul Gardner is represented by the other entrant, Killzy.

The Gillett pair, Beau Factor and Altar Boy, have been in great form of late, the former having won his last three starts in impressive fashion, while Altar Boy, after four straight wins around the middle of the year, has finished second and third at his last two starts, both behind Beau Factor. Both horses last raced on 15 September, when Beau Factor won over 1400m from Princess Pancakes, a rival again, and Altar Boy, and will step up to 1600m for the first time. The 7yo grey has really hit his straps in the Red Centre and with Dakota Gillett claiming 2kg, he gets in well here with 58kg in his second start in open grade. He promises to be hard to beat again.

Princess Pancakes and Dip Me Lid represent the Petrick stable, and both are in good form too. Princess Pancakes has had a win, three seconds and a fourth from just five starts this campaign, and although yet to win over this trip, she has had four seconds and a third from nine attempts over 1600m. Paul Denton, who has teamed up with Petrick for a multitude of wins over the years, takes the mount again and Princess Pancakes should provide stiff opposition for Beau Factor and company.

Dip Me Lid also raced last on 15 September here when third to Barocco Bar and Nasty Streak – that was over 1400m and came on the back of two runs in Kununurra, one a win, one a last placing in the Kununurra Cup over 1800m. Dip Me Lid has three wins and eight minor placings from 24 starts over this journey, and can make his presence felt here.

Altar Boy, as mentioned earlier, has done very little wrong since making his way to the Red Centre from far north Queensland, and he is also a previous winner over this trip, scoring here on 14 July. He has four wins from seven starts in the Alice, and with a second and a third as well, is a most consistent performer. Stan Tsaikos takes the mount and from the inside gate, he further adds to the puzzle.

Killzy, a newcomer to Alice Springs, is a last-start Tuncurry winner on 24 August. Although only a two-race winner from 26 career outings, he has winning form over this journey and cannot be discounted in a small but highly competitive affair.

The weather in the Red Centre has been nice and fine this past week, and a fine day is again expected today. The official forecast reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. The temperature is forecast to reach a warm 35 degrees during the day, with an overnight low of 14 degrees.

The first on the five-race card gets underway at 2.55pm (NT time), which is 4.25pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.16pm (NT time), or 6.46pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 4 TRAVANTI
Had no joy in Darwin with two fourth placings before a slight injury put paid to his Carnival campaign. Bounced back to his very best on home soil on 15 September, finishing strongly to beat Quick Return and company by two lengths and more. That was over this trip of 1200m and in this grade (0-58) and even with 2kg more for his last-start win, he should again acquit himself well in what is a similar field. Drawn the ace and should get a good run in transit.

R3 # 1 LITTLE DITTY
Led throughout to score well on Palmerston Sprint Day in Darwin, then returned to AS with a good second behind Quanapirri Bay on 25 August. Might pay to ignore his last-start unplaced effort on 15 September and allow another chance here. Dakota Gillett resumes her partnership with the 5yo and is unbeaten from her only ride on him. Drawn well in barrier three and with the 2kg apprentice claim, gets in nicely at the weights. Can bounce back in this.

R4 # 5 HURN COURT
Although well beaten by Garrucha on his AS debut on 15 September, was a decent runner-up in a handy 0-70 line-up. Should have come on for that outing, his first in 10 weeks, and makes plenty of appeal in this event. Drawn well for trainer Terry Gillett and rider Stan Tsaikos, and the trip of 1100m should suit the son of Outreach, having won once from three attempts at the journey. Competitive race but should be seen to advantage.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 4, 1, 8, 6
RACE 2 – 5, 4, 3, 1
RACE 3 – 1, 3, 8, 2
RACE 4 – 5, 8, 2, 1
RACE 5 – 1, 3, 4, 2

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