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Live sport on SN this weekendAndrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Alice Springs (07/02)
Andrew O’Toole • February 7th, 2026 12:00 pm
The first of two fortnightly meetings in the Red Centre during the month of February takes place today, with a six-race card the order of the day. The fields are on the light side, however, and only seven riders were required for the fixture, with the biggest field being the first (seven).
Two riders from Darwin, Raymond Vigar and apprentice Deborah Barton, will make the trip from the Top End, and it is to be hoped that the forecast showers come later in the day after the last race has been run at 1.57pm. The raceday temperature will at least be a good deal cooler than in recent weeks.
Leading trainer Kerry Petrick will again be well represented, with a dozen horses engaged for the programme. In the last two races on the card, she has no less than four runners in each, and after a four-timer at the last meeting on 24 January, she again looks set to have a strong hand on the day. However, in the day’s feature, the $25,500 Gallagher Insurance Brokers Handicap, Petrick does not have a runner, and it leaves the way open for last-start winner Square Cut to go back-to-back for the Ray Viney team.
Square Cut, a 7yo son of Kuroshio, whose stock excel on the sand and oil-based tracks of the NT, was fresh-up from a seven and a-half month break when bolting up over 1000m in an open handicap on 10 January, and he meets just four rivals this time in the Average Benchmark affair over 1100m. Not surprisingly, Jess Philpot, who was aboard last time, retains the mount and although up in weight by 3kg for this assignment, the winner of four of his 26 starts looks the one to beat. He has won at the trip previously from six attempts, and is a most consistent galloper who hardly ever goes a bad race.
Boy Big, another last-start winner from the Greg Connor stable, is, like Square Cut, a consistent performer and although now an 8yo, he seems to be racing as well if not better than ever. The winner of 13 races – five over 1100m – was a strong winner over a BM76 1200m on 24 January, and senior rider Paul Denton, who rode on that occasion, will again have the steer. He looks the hardest for Square Cut to beat.
Topweight Delago Lad, a stablemate of Boy Big, was disappointing last time when tailing the field home a fortnight ago, but he is certainly better than that effort would suggest. He won impressively four starts back on 22 November and if anywhere near that form, he would give this field a real shake. Danielle Hirini, the 8yo’s regular rider, will again be in the saddle and look to him to turn his form around with a bold showing.
Tango Stepz, also from the Viney stable, is another who maintains a consistent formline, having not finished further back than fourth in her last seven outings. She chased home Buckleup Buddy and was only narrowly beaten on that occasion a fortnight ago, and a similar effort would see her around the money again.
Down The Wicket completes the five-horse line-up, and the well-performed son of Shalaa, trained by Kevin Lamprecht, should be improved for his first-up sixth on 10 January. He never went a bad race last campaign and was a winner pre-Carnival in Darwin, and although this is not his grand final by any means, a bold showing would not surprise. Deborah Barton takes the mount which will reduce Down The Wicket’s weight to a luxury 53.5kg.
The day’s other feature is the Povey Stirk Lawyers Handicap for the 0-76 gallopers over 1400m. Altar Boy, a specialist at this trip having won no less than seven times, looks on target to record his third win from his last five starts, and Raymond Vigar, who gets on well with the son of The Mission, takes the mount again for the Paul Gardner stable.
Hardest for Altar Boy to beat should be Bahama Bay, who has finished second at his last two outings behind Square Cut and Boy Big; Princess Pancakes, who has won two of her last three starts, and Throw At Da Stumps, who is searching for a hat-trick of wins. He will be attempting 1400m for the very first time at his 53rd career start, but he can never be discounted and is racing in career-best form. Magic Defense and Kieffer make up the six-strong field and neither can be discounted in an even line-up.
The weather in Alice Springs this week has continued to be fine, although a change was forecast mid to later in the week when some showers were expected. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. The temperature is forecast to reach a comfortable 33 degrees, and it will be 23 degrees overnight. There is an 80% chance of 1-25mm.
The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 11.02am (NT time), which is 12.32pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 1.57pm (NT time), or 3.27pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 6 TIPSY TORONADOHas had no luck in two Red Centre starts to date after earlier winning in Darwin in late September. Slowly away and then became detached before making up a heap of ground to finish 6.4 lengths behind Buckleup Buddy and company when fifth in a 0-64 1100m on 24 January. Steps up in trip to 1200m here which will suit better, and has the services of in-form Jess Philpot. Can turn her form around without surprising.
R2 # 4 DOLCE D’AMOURCreated a sizeable impression when bolting clear to score impressively at her second start in Alice Springs on 24 January. Led and was never tested to win by almost nine lengths in 0-58 grade over 1400m, and although back in trip here, this does not look a strong field on paper. Drawn nicely and judged on her last effort, she should be on speed and will take plenty of running down.
R5 # 1 ALTAR BOYContinues to race well for the Paul Gardner stable. Has won two of his last four starts and his last-start fourth over a too-short 1200m was eye-catching. Ran on well that day and back to his favoured 1400m distance here – he has won seven of his 13 starts at the trip – will bring him right into this. Has plenty of weight to carry but the winner of ten races from 23 starts at this track has earned it and looks the hardest to beat with Raymond Vigar in the saddle.
LADBROKES PIONEER PARK – GOOD
RACE 1 – 6, 1, 4, 3RACE 2 – 4, 3, 1, 2RACE 3 – 3, 2, 1, 5RACE 4 – 4, 3, 1, 2RACE 5 – 1, 2, 4, 3RACE 6 – 1, 2, 3, 4
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