Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Live sport on SN this weekendAndrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Alice Springs (08/08)
Andrew O’Toole • August 8th, 2026 11:30 am
With the Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival in the Top End done and dusted for another year, racing returns to the Red Centre today after a fortnight’s break with a seven-race card and some 44 acceptors. The class two 1200m and the 0-64 1400m were both divided to provide all horses a run, and there will be nine riders in attendance at the fixture. While the biggest field sizes number only seven, there are nevertheless some decent offerings on the day, with a number of horses who have been racing in Darwin during the Carnival adding to the quality of the card.
The $28,000 Leading Apprentice Lek Maloney Handicap, an open sprint over 1200m, has attracted seven runners, three who have been racing during the Darwin Cup Carnival in the Top End and four who have been plying their trade locally. One of the locals, Luskin Hero, is my selection to take out the event.
One of two in the event trained by Greg Connor – Delago Lad is the other – Luskin Hero, although just turned nine, is raced as well if not better than ever. He has not finished out of the first pair in his last five starts, and his last-start win here a fortnight ago over 1100m was first class. He ran clear late to score by five lengths from Altar Boy, who had won at his previous start, and Square Cut, and Paul Denton, who has been aboard at each of the gelding’s last three starts for a win and two seconds, returns from the Darwin Carnival to take the mount.
Luskin Hero jumps from the inside gate here, and at his last four starts, has drawn either one or two and never been further back than second on each occasion. He also drops a half-kilo in weight from his last effort, and everything points to him being terribly hard to beat again.
Lucky Fortuna, one of Kym Healy’s pair engaged here – Real Valentia is his other representative – raced well against good opposition during the Cup Carnival in the Top End. She finished third, beaten 2.4 lengths, behind Rivkin and Convincebility on Darwin Cup Day and as long as she has travelled from the Top End to the Red Centre in good order, she should again be right in the thick of things. She has a good record on the Pioneer Park track, with four starts for a win, a second and two thirds, so she can again be expected to figure in the finish. Ianish Luximon takes the mount on the 7yo daughter of Smart Missile.
Bahama Bay, Kerry Petrick’s sole runner in the event, never fired in two Top End starts but his previous three starts in the Red Centre had resulted in three wins. He is a winner four times at Pioneer Park and has won five times at the trip from 18 attempts. Lek Maloney, who had a good Darwin Carnival and was the leading apprentice in the Alice last season, has the mount and his 1.5kg claim will prove invaluable, reducing Bahama Bay’s weight to 57.5kg.
Rock Of Kryptonite has not raced since January but enjoyed a fine last campaign, winning twice and being placed second, fourth and fifth from five starts during November, December and January. Another in the veteran stage – he has just turned nine – he is relatively lightly raced, having his 40th career start here. He has been a winner on eight occasions and with 12 placings to boot, has been a good moneyspinner for his connections, amassing over $170,000 in stakes. He has also won first-up in the past, so should be kept safe.
Excuses Excuses is another with claims. The 11yo was not far away on resumption from a spell on 12 July, finishing fifth but beaten just four lengths behind Scissor Me Timbers. With that run under his belt and Danielle Hirini in the saddle, he should be vastly improved for his first run in over eight months and as the winner of five races on the track, he can’t be left out.
Delago Lad has been battling to find his best form of late but as the winner of nine races and just short of $260,000 in stakes, he cannot be discounted entirely, while Real Valentia, Healy’s second stringer, was a close-up sixth on Palmerston Sprint Day in the Top End behind Verbosity and with even luck in running, he could get some of it.
The last on the card, the $25,800 Leading Trainer Kerry Petrick Handicap, a Benchmark 76 over 1600m, has attracted the smallest field of the day but a good contest should be in store between Flying Start, Highlands and Grinzinger Lass, who were the first three home the last time they clashed over 1400m in 0-70 company on 26 July.
Flying Start had the better of his rivals on that occasion, scoring by half a length, but I favour Highlands, with a 1.5kg additional pull in the weights on his last-start defeat, to turn the tables on Flying Start over the 200m longer trip. Jess Booth again has the steer and with her 3kg claim, reduces Highlands’ weight to 55.5kg, while Flying Start and Paul Denton will be required to carry 59kg. Last time they clashed, Flying Start had 58kg and Highlands 56kg, so with a better weight differential this time, I can see the result being reversed.
Grinzinger Lass never goes a bad race and should be in the finish, while Grinzinger Bishop was a decent fifth to Maldini in Darwin on Monday over 2050m and must always be considered in a race such as this.
The weather in the Red Centre this week has been fine although a little on the cool side overnight, but a warm change is forecast for the coming days. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h tending northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a balmy 30 degrees during the day, and it will be a 11 degrees overnight. There is no chance of any rain.
The first race on the seven-race card gets underway at 12.49pm (NT time), which is 1.19pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.27pm (NT time), or 4.57pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 1 VORONYAFollowing two good wins in AS, finished third behind Yule Point and Texture respectively in two 3yo sprints during the Darwin Cup Carnival. Has returned to home base here and as long as the Top End exertions have not taken too much out of the son of Earthlight, he should be able to regain winning form. Drawn the outside but got back in both his runs in Darwin and finished well, so should be able to do the same in the opener.
R3 # 2 LUSKIN HEROMore than capable galloper who bolted in here a fortnight ago in the hands of Paul Denton. Although now a 9yo, is racing as well as ever, and has not finished out of the first two in his last five starts. Drops a half-kilo in weight from his last-start victory and this actually looks an easier assignment. Has won five times over the 1200m trip and from the inside gate, will take plenty of beating again.
R7 # 2 HIGHLANDSTouched off last start by Flying Start, a rival again, over 1400m but meets that galloper 1.5kg better at the weights this time due to Jess Booth’s apprentice claim, and can turn the tables. Only went down by a half-length and in this small five-horse field, looks well placed for the Ray Viney stable. Lightly-raced 6yo with a consistent record, and can embellish that with a victory in the last on the card.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 1, 2, 4, 7RACE 2 – 2, 4, 1, 3RACE 3 – 2, 7, 1, 4RACE 4 – 1, 2, 4, 6RACE 5 – 2, 3, 1, 6RACE 6 – 1, 2, 3, 5RACE 7 – 2, 1, 4, 3
Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
