Andrew O’Toole’s Sunday best at Alice Springs (26/07)

Racing returns to Alice Springs today after a fortnight’s break with a six-race card and some 33 acceptors. The 0-58 1200m was divided to provide all horses a run, and there will be seven riders in attendance at the fixture. As is usual in the Red Centre at this time of the year, when a number of horses are either in Darwin for the Carnival or having a break before being readied for spring racing, the fields are on the small side but there are still six winners to be found!

The highest rated race on the card is the $28,000 Truckies Day 28th August Handicap, an Average Benchmark 73 over 1100m. Just three trainers will be represented in the five-horse field, with Greg Connor (3) having multiple runners, while Ray Viney and Barry Cooke will have one representative apiece. And it is one of the Connor contingent, Luskin Hero, who I have placed on top of my selections.

The rising 9yo son of Kaphero is the winner of eight races in his 43 start career, with four of them coming here at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park. While getting on in years, he still continues to race consistently for his connections and seldom goes a bad race. Indeed, his most recent form is excellent, with a win and three seconds at his last four starts.

He scored over 1200m three starts back on 14 June, defeating Zestiman and Black Zous, and has since run second twice behind Pompeii Empire, beaten a nose, and was then run down over the concluding stages when last produced here on 12 July, Altar Boy finishing strongly to score by two lengths over this same trip. He has a good record at the distance, with four wins and six placings from 16 attempts, and he will again have the services of Paul Denton, who is two wins behind apprentice Lek Maloney in the 2025-26 jockeys’ premiership which will wrap up today in the Red Centre.

Hardest for Luskin Hero to beat might be the horse that defeated him when they last met, Altar Boy. He has been a quality performer for a number of years, as evidenced by his 15 career wins and 17 placings from 59 starts. He was fresh-up from a break when he stormed home over the top of his rivals last time, but whether he can put together two sprint wins in succession is the question. That said, he was impressive when scoring last time, and Jade Doyle takes the mount on this occasion – the other Jade, Hampson, was in the saddle a fortnight ago.

Delago Lad, the second of the Connor-trained trio, was more like his old self when third to Altar Boy and Luskin Hero when they last met. He had been a little disappointing at his previous three starts, but he is another fine performer, with 15 wins from 50 starts on the track, and now he has regained some form, he could go on with it. Lek Maloney will take 1.5kg off the gelding’s book weight of 59kg, which will aid his chances.

Square Cut, trained by Ray Viney, has not had a start since finishing fifth to Pompeii Empire on 21 June. He was not far away that day, beaten less than five lengths, and he is yet another capable galloper that could show up. King Bling completes the line-up, and the one-race winner looks out of his depth here, having finished at the tail last time behind Highlands on 12 July.

Speaking of Highlands, he is the topweight in the Remembering Mikala Club Handicap, a 0-70 over 1400m and the last on the card. However, I am favouring another last-start winner, Highlands’ stablemate Grinzinger Lass, to go back-to-back for Ray Viney and Jess Philpot.

Grinzinger Lass took a good scalp last time when downing another stablemate, Rosebud Lass, over this trip of 1400m on 12 July. Admittedly, Rosebud Lass had a harder run in transit, but Grinzinger Lass was strong through the line and is twice a winner at this distance, and twice placed, from just five attempts. The daughter of Shalaa from a Dundeel mare has been a good performer for the stable, and can add to her six career wins here.

Scissor Me Timbers and Flying Start, both from the Connor yard, appeal as the hardest for Grinzinger Lass to beat. The former is coming off a last-start win at the last meeting in 0-64 grade, and although up in class for this assignment, looks a likely type. Flying Start, who is a rising 8yo, is still a quality galloper and Denton will have the steer.

The weather in the Red Centre this week has been fine and fresh, with a cool breeze that you often get in the desert. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Morning frost. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach 16 degrees during the day, and it will be a chilly -1 overnight. There is no chance of any rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 12.07pm (NT time), which is 12.37pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 3.02pm (NT time), or 3.32pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 1 GOLDEN TUNES
Created a big impression when demolishing his rivals at his first start in AS on 12 July, scoring by almost eight lengths in a smart time for 1100m. In the same grade again (0-58) and stepping up in grip the only question mark. But such was his dominance at the first time of asking on the track, it is hard to see him being beaten. Danielle Hirini takes the mount this time and from barrier two, should be winning.

R4 # 2 LUSKIN HERO
Was run down here a fortnight ago by Altar Boy over this trip of 1100m, but meets that runner a half-kilo better this time. An out and out sprinter who will again have the services of Paul Denton, and will jump from an inside gate. Has won four times over this trip and seldom goes a bad race. One of three in the event trained by Greg Connor and can turn the tables on Altar Boy, who is better known over further. Looks hard to beat.

R6 # 4 GRINZINGER LASS
Talented mare who got the better of her well-performed stablemate Rosebud Lass here a fortnight ago, scoring by close on a length. The winner of six races on this track, and two at this distance of 1400m, she will again have the services of Jess Philpot and actually drops in grade from a 0-76 to a 0-70. Gets in well with 57kg and in an even line-up, should prove hard to head off.

SELECTIONS

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

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