Andrew O’Toole’s Sunday best at Alice Springs (15/03)

A day after the Top End ,the Red Centre’s version of Great Northern St Patrick’s Cup Day takes place today at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park, with the meeting doubling as the first leg of the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) for 2026.

Some five visiting apprentices from Queensland (Tom Orr), Tasmania (Kirra-Lee Lane), Victoria (Jessica Booth), Western Australia (Natika Riordan) and title holders South Australia (Tala Hutchinson) join with the Territory’s “points” rider Lek Maloney to battle it out for first blood in the first two heats of the series.

The series, held over six legs with two heats at each leg, will continue next week at Hobart (22 March), Belmont (25 March), Eagle Farm (8 April), Sandown (15 April) and conclude at Murray Bridge in SA on 22 April. It is a great platform on which to showcase the country’s leading young riders, who derive great benefit out of riding on different tracks against different opposition.

The NARS races are race two, in which NT representative Lek Maloney rides a leading chance in Splish Splash, and race four, which looks an even field on paper with perhaps the best chance the fresh runner River Frost for Natika Riordan, who has been in great form in her home state of WA just lately.

Outside of the apprentice series races, the feature is the $36,500 St Patrick’s Day Cup over 1600m. A field of seven will contest the Benchmark 76 affair, with Kerry Petrick holding a strong hand with three runners – last-start winners Magic Defense and Matron Samsing, and consistent Princess Pancakes. I am leaning towards Magic Defense being able to go back-to-back after winning in similar company eight days ago.

The consistent daughter of National Defense has had 14 starts at Pioneer Park for five wins, four seconds and a third, and has stakes of close on $139,000 to date. She won at her first four starts in the Red Centre after making a winning NT debut in late September 2024 in maiden grade, and has been a revelation on the sand and oil-based home track. Formerly trained by Jerome Hunter in Victoria before coming to the Petrick stable, the 5yo has hardly ever gone a bad race in the Territory, and even won a race on the grass at Kununurra last August.

Magic Defense’s genuine qualities seem certain to take her a long way towards a win here and rider Ianish Luximon has been in good form too, winning a race last week on Mougenot and riding regularly for the Petrick stable.

Altar Boy, who will carry 59.5kg, 5.5kg more than all six of his rivals, blotted his copybook last week when only fifth of six behind Magic Defense, but his effort was right out of character and even though he has a great record at last week’s distance of 1400m, he may well now be looking for a step up in trip to today’s 1600m, a distance he has won at on three occasions from ten attempts.

Paul Denton retains the mount on the Paul Gardner-trained 6yo and he could easily bounce back to his best here.

Flying Start was a lot more like the best version of himself when chasing home Magic Defense last week, and has the ability to test this field. The winner of seven of his 44 starts has won twice over this trip and now that he seems to be back to his best, Greg Connor’s charge, the mount of Danielle Hirini, can go on with it.

Matron Samsing has really come solid since being stepped up to 1400m and 1600m trips, and was very strong beating stablemate Starton and Bodmin Boy over this trip a week ago. Although the 4yo mare, formerly trained by Peter Moody, is up markedly in grade, she seems to be handling the class rises well and another bold showing here would not surprise. Apprentice Deborah Barton, who rode her to victory a week ago, retains the mount.

Princess Pancakes gives Petrick a strong third string too, the 7yo daughter of Rebel Dane racing as well as ever just lately. She has won at this trip previously and been placed second no less than six times, so the distance will hold no fears for her. She is drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed and Lek Maloney will do the steering.

Duty and Valley Prince make up the seven-strong field, with Duty a good winner over 1600m two starts ago and Valley Prince the winner of three races over the trip, and 12 at the track. Both rate some chance in an intriguing contest.

The weather in Alice Springs this week has been nice and fine, although there was cloud building up on Friday and Saturday. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a comfortable 32 degrees, and it will be 23 degrees overnight. There is a 60% chance of 0-15mm of rain.

The first race on the five-race card gets underway at the later time than usual at 1.27pm (NT time), which is 3.57pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 3.55pm (NT time), or 5.25pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 2 DYNASTY REWARD
Racing well without winning and gets another ideal opportunity here in this five-horse field. Has been placed five times in the top three from ten attempts, and surely a first win is imminent. Finished third last start behind Bon’s A Lad and Suits in a class 2 3yo event and this is a good deal easier. In-form apprentice Deborah Barton claims 3kg which will bring her mount in with a luxury 56kg. Can finally break through in the opener.

R4 # 3 RIVER FROST
Capable galloper resuming here for Greg Connor. Raced well last campaign, finishing with a win and two seconds, the most recent of those on 14 September behind Grinzinger Lass. Has won in a fresh state previously and will have the services of accomplished WA apprentice Natika Riordan, who will claim 3kg, bringing River Frost in very well at the weights. Drawn the inside gate and will get every chance from there.

R5 # 2 MAGIC DEFENSE
Saluted for the first time this campaign when proving too strong for Flying Start and Verbosity here last week over 1400m. Had been racing well without winning prior to that deserved success, and now she has found the winning thread again, can go on with it. Kerry Petrick has her team in great form and Ianish Luximon, who was in the winner’s circle last week, takes over aboard the 5yo daughter of National Defense. Has yet to win at the trip but placed three times from seven attempts, and can tick the 1600m box this time in the St Pat’s Cup.

SELECTIONS

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

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