SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Alice Springs (12/10)

For the third successive week, racing will take place in the Red Centre today and another good-quality card has been assembled, with 39 acceptors down to contest the five races. Alice will have a break next week before another three successive meetings, so there is really a plethora of racing in the lower Territory centre, which is making up for the six-week hiatus due to track issues that participants suffered in July and August.

The feature, and again smallest field of the day, is the fourth, the Derby Day on 2 November Handicap, a 0-70 1200m event with five acceptors. Three are from the Terry Gillett stable, while the other pair, Lunar Solar and Taormina Duchess, are trained by Lisa Whittle. Between them, Gillett and Whittle have a host of trainer’s premierships to their credit in the Red Centre, and are always at the forefront of the training ranks.

Hurn Court, second at his only two starts at Pioneer Park, is backing up after chasing home Flying Yishu here six days ago. He led on that occasion and was collared late over 1100m, but with the apprentice claim here and an extra 100m, he should still prove very hard to beat. His first-up second was behind Garrucha, well beaten, but he looks a capable type and seems to have settled in well on the sand and oil-based track conditions.

Whittle’s Lunar Solar was fourth in the same race a week ago, and like Hurn Court, will be having her third start in Alice – the extra trip should be to her liking as she has three wins over 1200m from seven starts. Valley Prince will be a contender again, having won his last two starts over this trip. He was also nominated in the 1400m event on the card, but Gillett has elected to leave him at the shorter journey in this smaller field.

Ornamental Lady, also from the Gillett barn, has finished second at her last two outings behind stablemates Beau Factor and Valley Prince, and must be considered here, while Taormina Duchess is a two-race winner and this will prove a big ask for her. That said, her fourth last week behind Travanti was not a bad effort and in this small field, a bold showing would not be out of the question.

In the other events on the card, Jackset, Bodmin Boy and Tortellini make most appeal in the maiden 1200m, while Quick Return should be prominent in an even line-up in the Benchmark 54 1200m, with Omoplata, Magic Defense (both last-start winners) and Kikuyu having definite claims to success.

Lamoree, who was well backed when she won here last week, would only have to reproduce that effort to be a big chance again in the fourth, the 0-58 1000m, while Supreme Goal, The Girl’s Boy, Barocco Bar, Quizzle and Fantasy Eagle make most appeal in a good race to finish the programme, the TRNT Off The Track Handicap for 0-64 performers over 1400m.

The weather in the Red Centre continues to be fine and has warmed up appreciably lately. The official forecast reads: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach 35 degrees during the day, with an overnight low of a warmer than usual 17 degrees.

The first on the five-race card gets underway at 2.42pm (NT time), which is 4.12pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.20pm (NT time), or 6.50pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R2 # 4 QUICK RETURN
Did plenty of work outside a hot speed here last week, but fought on gamely for a close-up second to Travanti, who finished over the top of his rivals from back in the field. Drawn the middle of the line here and as long as he took no harm from last week’s exertions, should again perform well in this BM54 over the same trip of 1200m. Visiting NSW rider Jeff Kehoe has the mount and he will no doubt give Quick Return every show. Right in this.

R3 # 1 HURN COURT
Just collared late after leading here last week over 1100m by Flying Yishu, and up in trip this time in the same 0-70 grade. Has two stablemates as well as two Lisa Whittle contenders to overcome, but drops 1.5kg in weight due to the apprentice claim of Dakota Gillett, which will definitely assist his chances. Has been placed second in his only two Red Centre starts, but can get that elusive win this time.

R5 # 5 SUPREME GOAL
Lightly-raced 6yo with two wins and a second from just four starts in the Alice. Won over 1600m last time out on 29 September in 0-58 company, and drops back a furlong here while taking on 0-64 company. Looks a promising type and Stan Tsaikos, who has been aboard for three of the son of Supreme Class’ four starts, will be reunited with the gelding. Will give a great sight in the last of the day.

SELECTIONS

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

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