Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (09/05)

After a tremendous Alice Springs Cup Carnival which concluded on Monday, racing returns to Fannie Bay today after a two-week break and with the 0-58 1300m being divided due to 15 acceptors, a six-race card awaits us in the Top End. With ten riders in attendance at the meeting, all horses entered will have the chance to compete for the $142,800 stakes on offer.

The main race of the day, The Denis Ralph Benchmark 76 Handicap over 1100m, is unfortunately one of the smaller fields on the card, but nevertheless a competitive contest seems assured. Not for the first time, leading trainer Gary Clarke has a strong hand, with three of the five runners engaged, although Awash would surely be more of a chance over a longer trip. However, his stablemates Field Of Flutes and Devils Delight, both resuming from breaks, make plenty of appeal and I am keen on the former to return to winning form for the first time since late August last year.

Field Of Flutes, a 6yo son of Deep Field from the Bel Esprit mare Bel Chandon, is capable of footing it with the better Top End sprinters and was in good form last campaign when beating Boldinho over 1000m on 23 August before chasing home the same horse in his next three starts, twice finishing second and once fifth. He then spelled during November, December and January, before a third to Zourata on 14 February. He has not raced since but has a decent fresh record and with Jarrod Todd aboard, even from the outside gate of five, he should be highly competitive.

Hardest for Field Of Flutes to beat might be the bottom-weight Orion The Hunter, trained by Jason Manning, who sits on 199 career wins as a trainer. Orion The Hunter showed decent ability last campaign, running a number of good races before winning at Fannie Bay on 4 October. He then spelled before resuming with a fine, close-up second to Atlantic Ocean over 1200m on 27 March, and this looks a nice race for another son of Deep Field. Wayne Davis takes the mount and with just 55.5kg to carry, he should make his presence felt from an inside gate of two.

Devils Delight, a stablemate of both Field Of Flutes and Awash, won three of his last five starts last campaign, the most recent on 18 October when downing Peel The Stickers over this trip in a 0-76, similar grade to this Benchmark 76 affair. He seldom goes a bad race and if allowed to set his own rules in front, he can take plenty of running down. Aaron Sweeney will guide his fortunes from gate three.

Atlantic Ocean, a last-start winner over 1200m, drops back in trip here but from the inside gate and with Deborah Barton’s 2kg claim, he gets in well with just 55kg. Trained by Paul Shiers, he has won six times from 40 starts and now he has found his winning groove in Darwin, can go on with it. Leave him out of calculations at your peril.

Awash, as mentioned earlier, is better known over 1600m and further and has never competed at this trip. Jess Booth will ride for Clarke Racing but a win would surprise.

The Sportsbet Handicap, a 0-70 1200m, has attracted another field of five runners, but like the feature, is tricky to work out, with all five having claims to success.

Polarising, trained by Tommy Logan, bolted in here last time out over 1000m on 10 April but has won twice and been twice second over this trip from ten attempts. Hannah Le Blanc, who does a good deal of riding for the Logan stable with Sonja Logan on the sidelines with a broken pelvis, takes over the ride this time from Jess Booth, who was the winning pilot at the 6yo’s last run. She promises to give her rivals plenty of opposition.

Brazen Bon, another from the Manning stable, is fresh-up here from a break of five months and if anywhere near his best, a bold showing would come as no surprise. The son of Bon Aurum was a little disappointing last campaign but he has plenty of ability and by all accounts, has done well during his break from racing. Vanessa Arnott takes the mount and she knows the 5yo well.

Villa Royale let the side down when last produced on 14 February, finishing seventh of nine over 1100m in 0-64 grade. However, the mare’s previous four starts in Darwin had produced three wins and a second, and Aaron Sweeney takes the ride this time for the Clarke team. She could easily get some of the spoils here.

Crazy Brave, second last time out behind Polarising, and topweight Hennessy Lad, another resuming from a break, are both more than capable on their day and add to what should be an intriguing contest.

The weather in Darwin this week has been mostly fine although still a little warm to refer to it as “dry season” weather. However, it is just around the corner! The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach 34 degrees during the day, and it will be 23 degrees overnight. There is just a 5% chance of any rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 2.17pm (NT time), which is 2.47pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.20pm (NT time), or 5.50pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R2 # 2 SOUTHAMPTON FLARE
Has hit his straps in the Top End now and after winning two starts back in maiden company, fought on well behind Ankle Rolex in a BM54 1200m on 24 April. Up in trip to 1300m this time should hold no fears for the son of I Am Invincible and Overstep. Trainer Chloe Baxter had a decent Cup weekend in Alice Springs and can go on with the job back in Darwin, and regular rider Raymond Vigar again has the steer.

R4 # 2 FIELD OF FLUTES
Good sprinter resuming from an almost three-month let-up. Was right up to the best of the Territory short-course performers last year, and although out of a place in the 2025 Palmerston, beat home this year’s Pioneer Sprint runner-up Boldinho the next time they clashed in late August. Jarrod Todd takes the mount for Gary Clarke and a bold showing seems assured.

R6 # 3 TIGERS ROAR
The son of Jungle Cat is looking for a third straight win, having won over this trip of 1100m on 14 March and then again over 1200m on 10 April, both in 0-58 grade. Back to 1100m will be no issue and although up in class to a 0-64 and facing some in-form gallopers, Tayarn Halter’s 5yo looks to have more improvement to come. Raymond Vigar retains the ride and a hat-trick of wins would come as no surprise.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 4, 1, 6, 2
RACE 2 – 2, 7, 3, 6
RACE 3 – 4, 2, 5, 3
RACE 4 – 2, 5, 1, 3
RACE 5 – 6, 4, 2, 1
RACE 6 – 3, 2, 8, 7

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