Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Live sport on SN this weekendAndrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Alice Springs (30/05)
Andrew O’Toole • May 30th, 2026 11:30 am
Racing returns to the Red Centre today for the first time since Alice Springs Cup Day on 4 May, and the fields are tremendous, with two races – the 0-58 1000m and the Benchmark 54 1400m – being divided to allow the majority of horses a chance to compete. With some seven races on the card and 11 jockeys in attendance, it promises to be a competitive day of racing action.
The feature is the last of the seven, the $30,000 Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup for the Benchmark 76 gallopers over 1400m. The quinella from the Tennant Creek Cup of a fortnight ago, Venting and stablemate The Girls Boy, will clash again but I am keen on Gallahop, the most inexperienced horse in the field and the only 3yo, from the stable of Greg Connor.
Gallahop, a son of Dundeel and the Redoute’s Choice mare Deepwood Vale, was purchased by his trainer for stable clients back in March, and in his only start to date at Pioneer Park, he went a tremendous race for second to Leveraged Buyout in the Alice Springs Guineas (1600m) on 18 April. He led on that occasion and Leveraged Buyout, the favourite, took the length of the Pioneer Park home straight to run him down.
That performance was made to look all the better when Leveraged Buyout came out and finished second to Rock Revolution in the three and four-year-old 1600m event on 2 May, before steaming home from the rear to finish a tremendous second to Magic Defense in the Alice Springs Cup against the older horses two days later.
Gallahop, meanwhile, has not raced since the Guineas, largely due to a minor leg issue which he has well and truly recovered from. Safely through this assignment, his trainer intends to send his charge to Darwin for the 3yo Carnival features, and with Paul Denton in the saddle today, I am expecting a top run from the gelding, who will be having just his tenth career start.
Hardest for Gallahop to beat looks likely to be the Kerry Petrick trio of Venting, The Girl’s Boy and Our Couver.
Venting narrowly repelled The Girl’s Boy in a stirring Tennant Creek Cup finish, and although a rising 8yo, he is racing in great heart. Lek Maloney, who had been his regular rider prior to a suspension which meant Ianish Luximon had the Tennant Creek Cup mount, returns to partner the son of Star Witness and he would only have to repeat his effort of a fortnight ago to be right in the finish again.
The Girl’s Boy, to be ridden by Stan Tsaikos as he was when finishing runner-up at Tennant Creek, is a kilo and a-half better off for his narrow defeat by Venting last time, and that will be an advantage over this 1400m trip, a distance he has won at no less than six times. He has won eight races all told on his home track and will give supporters a great sight again.
Our Couver could manage only seventh in the Alice Springs Cup last time out, beaten just over seven lengths. However, his form earlier in the campaign was solid, with placings behind Rewards And More and Venting, and it would come as no surprise if he were to be highly competitive here over this trip, at which he has won twice previously. Luximon, who had the mount in the AS Cup, will again have the steer.
Valimi, Super Sharp and Nasha complete the line-up and all would need to step up on their recent efforts to be realistic winning hopes here. That said, all possess ability and on their day could get some of it.
The weather in the Red Centre this week has been fine and quite cool, with the temperatures down to single digits overnight. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds. The temperature is forecast to reach 25 degrees during the day, and it will be just 9 degrees overnight. There is no chance of any rain.
The first race on the seven-race card gets underway at 12.17pm (NT time), which is 12.47pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 3.52pm (NT time), or 4.22pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 4 STELLA BYSTARLIGHTHandy mare who seldom runs a bad race. Just touched off here last time on 2 May by Cap Ten over 1200m in 0-58 grade, beaten .2 lengths. Yet to win at this trip of 1100m but has been placed five times from seven attempts. Drawn nicely in the day’s opener and will again have the services of regular rider Jess Philpot. Can start the day on the right note for the Ray Viney team.
R5 # 1 EVEN SHARPER5yo son of More Than Ready knocking on the door in recent starts. Ran third on both days of the recent AS Cup Weekend, behind Cap Ten and Canada Bay respectively, and although just a three-race winner from 35 starts, has been ten times second and six times third. Has won twice over this distance of 1400m from nine attempts, and even though burdened with the topweight of 61kg, should give a good account of himself.
R7 # 6 GALLAHOPCreated a good impression at his only start to date in the Alice when just going down to Leveraged Buyout in the Alice Guineas on 18 April. That was his first start since finishing down the track at Hawkesbury on 7 March. Leveraged Buyout franked the form with a slashing run for second to Magic Defense in the AS Cup and judged on that and the narrow defeat in the Guineas, he should give the Anniversary Cup a real shake.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 4, 8, 6, 5RACE 2 – 1, 3, 2, 7RACE 3 – 5, 1, 2, 3RACE 4 – 2, 7, 4, 10RACE 5 – 1, 2, 4, 8RACE 6 – 5, 3, 4, 6RACE 7 – 6, 2, 1, 4
Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
