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

For the second successive week, racing takes place at Fannie Bay in Darwin today with a decent six-race card on the agenda. Like last week, a number of recent well-performed Darwin Cup Carnival performers are entered which adds to the afternoon’s interest, and there are also a few horses backing up from competing last week.

The day’s feature will be the third on the card, the $28,000 Vale Gavin Clarke Open (1200m). The race is named in honour of the late Gavin Clarke, a former three-time premiership-winning trainer in Darwin back in the early 1980s. Gavin, who passed away about three weeks ago, and wife Trudie, a former jockey and long-time clerk of the course in Darwin, prepared a boutique team of gallopers from their Fannie Bay base and had a good deal of success. Gavin is the younger brother of Shane Clarke, who of course prepared the great Undue for two Group 1 wins from his Darwin stable.

The open sprint has attracted a field of seven, and a number of chances abound in the event. However, I have settled on topweight Field Of Flutes as my on-top selection.

Trained by Gary Clarke – he was in fact, Clarke’s 1,000th winner in Darwin back on 20 June this year – Field Of Flutes had been in good form leading up to and through the early part of the recent Darwin Cup Carnival, winning on 9 May before following that up with the milestone victory for his trainer six weeks later.

He then finished second to Wild Beau over 1000m on Day 2 of the Carnival, before a fifth placing in the Flying Sprint on 25 July. He has since contested the Palmerston Sprint and was far from disgraced, finishing sixth and beaten less than nine lengths behind stablemate Boldinho, Early Crow, Wild Beau and company.

He has really come solid this preparation, and the winner of nine races will have the services of Jessica Booth, who rode a double last week and whose 2kg claim will reduce his weight from 59kg to 57kg, which appears to be a luxury impost for a sprinter of his quality.

Hardest to beat might be the relative newcomer to Darwin in Gravina, who will be having just his second Top End start for trainer Chris Pollard. The former Sydneysider, the winner of almost $950,000 in stakes, showed with his first-up third behind Shisuta Bo over 1300m on Palmerston Sprint Day that a first win in Darwin might not be far away, and the winner of five races over this trip of 1200m will have plenty of admirers. Stan Tsaikos, who had a fine Darwin Cup Carnival with feature wins in the Palmerston Sprint and Chief Minister’s Cup among others, will take the mount and from barrier four, Gravina should again give a great sight for supporters.

Bon’s Pride, runner-up in last year’s Palmerston, has been racing consistently this year apart from his last-start eighth in the 2026 renewal of the feature sprint. He got back in the run and failed to pick up much ground, being beaten just over 12 lengths behind Boldinho and company. However, he is a quality performer and from the inside gate, he might be able to secure a handier run in transit in the hands of regular rider Vanessa Arnott.

Lim’s Bighorn made a decent impression on his first Darwin start a week ago when fifth behind the flying Wild Beau over 1000m. This trip will suit much better – he has won five times from 15 attempts at 1200m – and Lek Maloney will take the mount this week on Pat Johnston’s former well-performed Singapore galloper. He could spring a surprise from gate two.

Devils Delight finished at the tail last time he competed during Darwin Cup weekend, but he had finished a fine second at his previous start to the speedy Zourata and filled the same place two starts prior to that behind Field Of Flutes in early May. The seven-race winner has won three times over this trip and been placed on a further five occasions, so he cannot be left out of calculations.

Genetic Freak was an eight-catching fourth behind Anson Bay in the Dabble Cup (1300m) on 29 July and having had a freshen-up since then, should appreciate the 1200m this time. Trained by Tayarn Halter, who prepared five winners during the recent two-day Kununurra fixture in Western Australia, Genetic Freak is a six-race winner and although now a 7yo, is fairly lightly raced, having had just the 34 raceday starts.

Awash was entered for this event as well as the 1300m race on the day, but Clarke has elected to go this way with the son of Merchant Navy. Although short of his best, he was placed second twice over 1300m in May and June and with a month between runs, he could sprint well in a semi-fresh state.

The weather in Darwin this week continues to be fine and pleasant, with slightly warmer and more humid days, building clouds and light afternoon breezes. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then shifting west to northwesterly during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach 32 degrees, while it will be 23 degrees overnight. There is a 30% chance of 0-1mm of rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 2.27pm (NT time), which is 2.57pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.25pm (NT time), or 5.55pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 3 MIAMI BABY
Handy galloper having his first start over this trip of 1600m. Has been racing consistently over 1200m and 1300m, and was narrowly beaten last time out over the latter at Katherine. This does not look a strong lot on paper and from a good gate and with Dakota Gillett to do the steering, he can break through for a deserved win for Chloe Baxter, who won the first race on last week’s card here with Sass.

R5 # 1 MONTJUIC MAGIC
Was a mid-grade and tried horse race star of the recent Cup Carnival, with two fine wins in races restricted to horses from Magic Millions sales held in the NT. Has had just the four starts since being purchased from the 2026 AS Magic Millions Sale in early May, for three wins and a second, and dropping back to the 1100m here from a win over 1300m last time should not be an impediment to her chances in this event. Should be very hard to beat.

R6 # 3 MEET ME AT THE BAR
Has twice finished second, to Yule Point and Dynasty Reward respectively, from only four Top End starts. Disappointed when last produced on 29 July but dropping back to 1000m here may be more to his liking. Leading rider goes aboard and although barrier not ideal, this does not look an overly strong maiden event and with even luck in running, gets a good opportunity to break through for a first win at his eighth start.

SELECTIONS

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

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