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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMAndrew O’Toole’s Friday best at Darwin (24/04)
Andrew O’Toole •  April 23rd, 2026 5:31 pm
Racing returns to Fannie Bay today after a two-week break, and unfortunately just four races will be contested. The highest-graded race of the day, the Average Benchmark 1300m, failed to gain the requisite number of acceptors and was deleted. However, the remaining four races are all competitive affairs and feature each-way betting in each, with two eight-horse fields, a nine-horse line-up and a ten-horse field the order of the day. With ten riders in attendance at the meeting, all horses will have the chance to compete for the $92,500 stakes on offer.
With the ABR falling over, the 0-64 1600m, the first on the card, is the main race of the day and an eight-horse field will do battle. There are a number of chances in the event, but Rhesus, from the stable of Phil Cole, has plenty of runs on the board and deserves a winning turn on the score of consistency alone.
The son of Lonhro from an Exceed And Excel mare has been a decent performer for his connections, with four wins, seven seconds and five thirds from 27 starts his record. He has won just over $140,000 in stakes, and there seems more in store for the attractive 5yo gelding.
He last started when fourth in a similar 0-64 1300m on 27 March, chasing home Fly and company and beaten 5.3 lengths. He steps up here in trip to the 1600m, and although yet to win at the journey, he has been placed twice from four attempts. Wayne Davis, who has been aboard the dark brown for the majority of his Top End starts, will again be in the saddle and perhaps the only downside is his awkward barrier of eight, the outside of the field.
However, there is a good run from the 1600m start to the first turn into the back straight at about the 1200m mark, so Davis should be able to find a position and can make his presence felt late. He would only have to reproduce an effort such as when he finished third to Bruno Bruno in a 0-70 1300m two starts back to be very hard to beat here.
He will not have it all his own way, though, with several rivals having claims to success. The Gary Clarke-trained pair of Bollon and Prince Ruban make appeal, as does Danger Man for trainer Chris Pollard.
Bollon, a 4yo raced by leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody and prepared by the Top End’s leading trainer, showed enough as a 3yo to suggest he would be even better with a little more time, and his two runs back this campaign bear that out. He was only fifth first-up behind Bruno Bruno, beaten eight lengths over 1300m on 6 March, but improved markedly to finished third, beaten just 0.7 lengths, behind Ankle Rolex over the same trip on 2 April.
The step-up to 1600m this time should be very much to his liking – he ran fourth in the NT Derby over 2050m last Carnival and followed that up with a second placing over the same trip to Villa Seventynine on Darwin Cup Day. Third-up here over a mile should make him very competitive, and he has the services of Jarrod Todd to guide his fortunes.
Prince Ruban is nothing if not a Fannie Bay specialist – each of his 12 wins have been here – and he was last a winner three starts back over 1300m on 14 March. His two subsequent efforts were somewhat substandard, but he can never be left out, even if now a rising 9yo. He has the inside gate and Aaron Sweeney will do the steering.
Danger Man has won twice and been placed three times over this trip, and has often looked a galloper capable of going to the next level. However, he like Prince Ruban is now an 8yo and his best form is arguably behind him, but that said, he still possesses his share of ability, as evidenced when second two starts back over this trip behind Beau Factor on Melbourne Cup Day. He is second-up from a spell here and look for improvement on his first-up eighth on 27 March over 1200m.
Of the others, Straya Pride has ability but does not always show it, while Barocco Bar, a former Tennant Creek Cup winner now in the stable of Pat Johnston, could surprise with visiting rider Billy Cray in the saddle. Hell And Back needs to improve, while the same can be said for Roc De Russian.
In the other races on the card, Fury looks hard to beat in the second, Ankle Rolex could go back-to-back in the third, while Sassy Abbey, in an even field, makes appeal in the last of the four.
The weather in Darwin this week has been mostly fine during the day but there have been some decent showers overnight. However, the forecast looks to be improving and hopefully the rain has just about gone and we can move into the dry! The official forecast for reads: Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then becoming east to southeasterly and light in the late 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 four-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 the early time of 4.04pm (NT time), or 4.34pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 2 RHESUSConsistent performer who almost always gives a good account of himself. Yet to win at this trip of 1600m but has been placed twice from four attempts. This 0-64 grade contest looks most suitable and he has the services of regular rider Wayne Davis. Drawn the outside gate but should have plenty of time to work into a spot with a decent run before the first turn. If anywhere near his best and with even luck, he should take a power of beating in the day’s opener.
R2 # 1 FURYWas very impressive winning on his Darwin debut three starts ago before disappointing second-up, beating just two home. However, his most recent effort, in stronger grade than this class 2, was much improved, finishing third and beaten just 3.2 lengths behind Atlantic Ocean. That was on 27 March so has had time to get over that performance. Jarrod Todd takes the mount again and the in-form hoop can add to his great record this season.
R4 # 5 SASSY ABBEYBroke her maiden two starts back over 1000m on 14 March, before stepping up in grade and distance to finish a fine second to stablemate Pleasing Smile on 27 March. Consistent 3yo daughter of Zousain, and has a nice draw here to aid her chances from the 1100m. Phil Cole and Wayne Davis team up again and can bookend the card with even luck.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 2, 5, 1, 7RACE 2 – 1, 4, 5, 6RACE 3 – 5, 3, 8, 6RACE 4 – 5, 1, 3, 6
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