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Andrew O’Toole’s SATURDAY best at Darwin (04/10)
Andrew O’Toole • October 4th, 2025 3:00 pm
The first of three Saturday meetings in the Top End during the month of October takes place today, with a five-race card to coincide with some top-class racing action in both Sydney and Melbourne. While not the biggest fields, there are some competitive line-ups with some quality performers, not least of all in the fourth event, the Sportsbet Handicap, an average benchmark 1100m dash. Gary Clarke, the 13-time leading trainer in Darwin, lines up four of the six runners and not surprisingly, he looks almost certain to take out the prize.
Clarke’s quartet is made up of Boldinho, who has won his last two races, Field Of Flutes, who is finally showing the form expected of him, a resuming Flying Annie, third in the Palmerston Sprint at her most recent outing on 2 August, and Pharoah Magic, who was better last time out when third behind Boldinho on 20 September. Even though burdened with the steadier of 62.5kg, I am still leaning towards Boldinho to be the hardest to beat.
The 6yo son of Brazen Beau has had just the five races at Fannie Bay, winning his first on 12 July before a fast-finishing fifth in the Palmerston Sprint on Day 7 of the recent Darwin Cup Carnival. He then had a three-week freshen-up before going down narrowly to Field Of Flutes on 23 August, prior to his last two impressive winning performances on 6 and 20 September. He possesses good tactical speed and does not have to lead, instead preferring to sit either outside or just behind the leaders in those last two victories.
Jarrod Todd has been in the saddle at each of his last three starts, and again takes the reins here. Although drawn out a bit at gate five in the six-horse field, he should be able to trail the speed before unleashing his powerful finish, although with his big weight, he will not want to give away too much of a start to his rivals.
Flying Annie, who has not had a start for just over two months, has the ace draw and with her pace should be able to lead this field in the early and middle stages. Aaron Sweeney, who takes the mount, has been aboard the 7yo Flying Artie mare in recent times and her last five starts have reaped two wins, a second and a third placing. She was only once unplaced and that was two starts back when fading to sixth behind Lumber Punk and company in the WFA lead-up to the Palmerston. She should be highly competitive in this line-up and over this distance.
Field Of Flutes, after winning his first two starts, never fired when taken to Alice Springs for the Carnival and took a while to find his best again on returning to the Top End for the Carnival. However, he has been back in his best form at his latest two outings, beating Boldinho on 23 August in a close finish, then chasing the same horse home last start over 1100m on 20 September. He again promises to race well, and Adam Nicholls will be in the pigskin today.
Pharoah Magic went an improved race for third last time behind Boldinho, beaten just four lengths, and although a little below his best prior to that, a further bold showing would not surprise. Wayne Davis takes the mount on the fourth of the Clarke quartet.
Sunzou, trained by Chris Nash, is looking for his third successive win and steps up in grade here after winning his last two in 0-70 events, one at Katherine and then last time out in Darwin when he just held out Convincebility by the barest possible margin. The runner-up has since come out and won, so the form looks solid around Sunzou, who will have the services of Sonja Logan.
Oakland Raider completes the line-up and with the minimum weight, is another with a chance. He won well in class two company two starts back before going down to stablemate Frawley in a 0-64 1000m a fortnight ago. This is harder but he possesses plenty of speed.
Other good chances on the day look likely to be Mr Marrakech in the first, while Style And Grace has been nearing a win and gets a good opportunity in the second. Sabor, for Jason Manning and Vanessa Arnott, should be a major contender in the third, while in the last of the day, the only winner in the 3yo and maiden hybrid event, Snappy Sweetheart, can make it back-to-back wins for trainer Phil Cole.
The weather in Darwin this week has been fine and warming up, with the humidity increasing steadily. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. The chance of morning fog about the Cox Peninsula. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then tending north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach a very warm 36 degrees during the day, and it will be a sticky 25 overnight. There is just a 10% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.24pm (NT time), which is 2.54pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.56pm (NT time), or 5.26pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 1 MR MARRAKECHTried hard here last week when going down narrowly behind Convincebility and Struck Gold. That was 1200m and he had to do some work early from a wide barrier. Up to 1300m here will be more suitable and although drawn in the outside gate, he only has four rivals. Regular rider Adam Nicholls retains the mount and with only 2kg more to carry than the lightest-weighted opponent, he looks the horse to beat.
R4 # 1 BOLDINHOHas hardly put a foot wrong since a fine fifth in the Palmerston Sprint behind Early Crow and company here in early August. Has won his last two in grand style and even though burdened with 62.5kg here, carried 62kg to win on 20 September. Will get plenty of opposition from his three stablemates but he is a quality sprinter and Jarrod Todd again takes the mount. Should be right in the finish again.
R5 # 7 SNAPPY SWEETHEARTThe only winner in this 3yo and maiden event and looked good beating stablemate and a rival again, Mlinzi, here last time out on 6 September. That was over 1000m but the extra 100m here should not be an issue for the 3yo daughter of Zousain. Drawn ideally in barrier two and again has the services of Wayne Davis to guide her fortunes. Should give her supporters plenty to cheer about.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 1, 2, 5, 4RACE 2 – 5, 3, 1, 9RACE 3 – 2, 1, 3, 6RACE 4 – 1, 3, 2, 5RACE 5 – 7, 4, 3, 5
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