Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Alice Springs (28/03)

With only a fortnight until the Alice Springs Cup Carnival kicks off in earnest on 11 April, a further lead-up meeting, with six races, takes place at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park today. Apart from two each-way betting races, the fields overall are still on the light side, but the unseasonal wet weather in the Red Centre has put trainers on the back foot when preparing their teams, and hopefully with fine weather now the norm again, more horses and consequently bigger fields will start to emerge from next week.

The feature is the $25,500 PFD Foods Fillies and Mares Marquee 18 April Handicap for the open sprinters over 1200m. A field of just five will contest the event – Grinzinger Lass was an early withdrawal from the original field of six – with Greg Connor and Kerry Petrick having two representatives apiece, and Rewards And More, trained by the latter, is my on top selection.

The lightly-raced son of Reward For Effort, whose stock excel on the sand and oil-based NT tracks, was formerly trained by Jerome Hunter in Victoria for whom the 5yo gelding had 14 starts for five wins and three placings.

He made the move north to the Petrick stable just recently and in his only start in the Red Centre on 15 March, never stopped trying when runner-up to Delago Lad, beaten less than a length over 1100m in a similar open handicap.

The good-looking bay gave the impression that he would come on in leaps and bounds for the run, and there is no doubt that the extra distance will be to his liking, having had four starts at 1200m for a maiden win at Pakenham and two further placings. Lek Maloney takes the ride again and his 2kg apprentice claim brings Rewards And More in extra well with just 53kg to carry.

Hardest for Rewards And More to beat may well be the returning O’Tycoon, trained by Lisa Whittle. The son of Written Tycoon has not raced since having three starts in South Australia in December and January, with his last start at Murray Bridge on 10 January.

Although he failed to fire down south, he has a great record on his home track, his 12 starts at Pioneer Park having yielded six wins and two second placings. He has also won twice first-up and is a four-time winner over this trip. Paul Denton has the mount and the former Bjorn Baker-trained 6yo seems sure to give a good account of himself.

Boy Big is one of Connor’s pair – the other is Flying Yishu – and he would have to be a delight to race, such is his consistency. The winner of 13 races from 63 starts won here three starts back over this trip and has since finished second and third over 1100m. He has won five times over this distance and Dakota Gillett, who knows him well, takes the mount and he should be hitting the line hard.

Our Couver, the second of the Petrick-trained runners, is first-up here, having won twice and been placed second from just three Red Centre starts in October and November last year. He looked a likely type when beating The Men Went Home and Altar Boy in those two wins, and although The Men Went Home lowered his colours two starts back, he should give a good account of himself in a fresh state. He has won once over this trip from six attempts and although he has no fresh form to recommend, in this small field with Ianish Luximon aboard, he could easily get some of it.

Flying Yishu completes the line-up and is second-up this preparation. He was well beaten behind stablemate Delago Lad and company when fifth over 1100m on 15 March, but that was his first start since mid-June and he has a good second-up record. He raced tremendously well last campaign and the 6yo is certainly a chance to get some of this on his best form, which includes a 2025 runner-up placing in the Pioneer Sprint to the mighty Dakota Lee.

The day’s other feature is the Colemans Printing Handicap, a BM76 1400m affair, and again just a five-horse field will go to the post. It is not easy to work out with Petrick having three runners – Princess Pancakes, Magic Defense and the resuming Venting – along with Dick Leech’s newcomer Active Duty, a last-start winner of the Colac Cup over 2000m on 6 February. Leech had great success last year with Hasseltoff, who went unbeaten in AS, culminating in a fine win in the AS Cup. Active Duty could be expected to need a look around Pioneer Park under race conditions for the first time but he cannot be left out, while Flying Start completes the line-up and is another most consistent galloper.

I favour the in-form and fit Princess Pancakes here, but any of the five could win without causing a surprise.

The weather in Alice Springs this week has been largely fine - goodness knows the Red Centre has had more than their fair share of rain - and hopefully the last of the precipitation has gone. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach just 27 degrees, and it will be a chilly 11 degrees overnight. There is a 0% chance of any rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 12.47pm (NT time), which is 2.17pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 3.48pm (NT time), or 5.18pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R2 # 3 REWARDS AND MORE
Created a good impression when a fine second to Delago.Lad on his first Red Centre start over 1100m on 15 March. Beaten less than a length, he seems certain to improve with the outing and the extra 100m will be very much to his liking. Lightly-raced former Victorian 5yo who looks to have a bright future in the Territory and can break his NT duck here.

R3 # 4 SCISSOR ME TIMBERS
Won in fine fashion last start on 7 March after a first-up second on the course a fortnight before. Dropping back in trip by 100m this time to 1100m but that should not be an impediment to his chances. The Greg Connor stable is in good form and rider Danielle Hirini will be keen to reunite with this chestnut son of Scissor Kick after missing last week’s meeting through suspension. Can go back-to-back.

R6 # 1 DOLCE D’AMOUR
Proved too strong for stablemate Starton here a week ago over 1400m and backing up over 1600m this time. Has won two of her last three starts and even on the quick back-up, looks well placed in this small field. Has yet to try this trip but gives every impression it will be well within her scope. The Kerry Petrick stable continues to rack up the winners and can take out the last of the day yet again.

SELECTIONS

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

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