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Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Alice Springs (22/09)
Andrew O’Toole • September 22nd, 2025 12:56 pm
A six-race Monday card awaits us at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park today, with 41 acceptors down to contest the fixture. The 0-58 1200m was again divided and produced two six-horse fields, and the two divisions will be the first two races on the programme which is timed to start at the early time of 11.12am.
The day’s feature is the last on the card, the Women in Racing Luncheon 24th October Handicap, which is an open 1400m. It has attracted eight acceptors and among them are three last-start winners – Isolyfe, Kieffer and Super Sharp. However, I’m quite keen on the chances of Altar Boy who is trained nowadays by Paul Gardner.
Formerly trained by Terry Gillett both here in AS and more recently in Darwin, Altar Boy only entered the Gardner stable last month and in two starts from the new barn, won first-up in the Cummins Cup over this trip and track on Truckies Day (29 August), before a strong-finishing sixth behind Super Sharp over a too-short 1200m here just a week ago. After getting well out of his ground early, the son of The Mission made up many lengths over the final 100m and getting back to a more suitable journey here will certainly be to his advantage.
Altar Boy has won five of ten at this trip of 1400m and is a seven-time winner from 15 starts on the Ladbrokes Pioneer Park circuit, and he only has to reproduce his win of two starts back, when he descended late to down Hebel and Super Sharp, and he will take plenty of beating. Dakota Gillett again takes the mount and the winner of ten of his 44 career starts certainly makes plenty of appeal in the feature.
Kieffer, who has strung together a brace of wins at his two most recent starts (one in Darwin and one here in Alice), looks the main danger to Altar Boy. Trained by Kevin Lamprecht, the 6yo son of Mawingo has always looked a capable type and is now putting it altogether as he matures. His win on Darwin Cup Day in the Top End over 1600m was first-class, while he again had no trouble beating his 0-64 rivals over the same trip here on 29 August.
Dropping back a furlong may make him slightly vulnerable – his last five starts have been over 1600m – but he is a previous winner from just four starts at 1400m and is in such good form that he cannot be discounted. South Australian apprentice Jade Doyle will take 2kg off Kieffer’s book weight of 56kg, which will bring him in nicely.
Super Sharp, trained by Lisa Whittle, gave apprentice Deborah Barton her first winner at the most recent meeting here last Sunday, and the 4kg claimer gave the chestnut son of More Than Ready a lovely ride. She saved ground during the run and angled back towards the inside in the last 150m, getting the decision by a head from Boy Big. Not surprisingly, Barton retains the mount today and with a featherweight to carry again, there appears no reason why Super Sharp won’t again go a bold race, especially as he has a good record over the distance.
Kickatorp, the topweight with 58kg, was just collared late in the race won by Super Sharp a week ago, and is in a half-kilo better this time. Ianish Luximon, who was back in the winner’s circle last week after a nine-month enforced hiatus from the saddle, will again team with the Ray Viney galloper, who hardly ever goes a bad race and must always be respected in a contest of this nature.
Of the others, Isolyfe, who scored here over 1100m fresh-up on 29 August, must be considered. The 7yo has won three of 11 at 1400m and bolted in over the shorter trip here when last produced. He should be improved for that run and if allowed his own rules in front, could well take some catching. Flying Start made up ground here a week ago after looking beaten approaching the home turn, and on his day he is up to winning this.
Mi Mijo strung three wins together over 1600m in June and July but his last couple of efforts have been below-par, while Faithful Champion, like Altar Boy, is another newcomer to the Gardner stable, having previously been trained by Chris Nash in Darwin. This may be a bit tough for him.
The weather in Alice Springs this week has been mainly fine and warm, with some strong winds and even the odd shower thrown in for good measure. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming south easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. The temperature is forecast to reach a comfortable 26 degrees during the day, and it will be 9 degrees overnight. There is just 5% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the six-race card gets underway at the pre-noon time of 11.12am (NT time), which is 11.42am on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 2.13pm (NT time), or 2.43pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R3 # 1 MOUGENOT
Had some issues with the starting stalls when sent to Darwin for the Carnival, and was a late scratching and never ran in the Top End. Trialled here after the races last week and did everything right. Has some decent SA form to recommend and now in the stable of Ray Viney, he looks the testing material here. Comeback jockey Ianish Luximon, who rode his first winner last Sunday after an enforced lay-off, takes the mount and he looks the one to beat.
R4 # 1 BOY BIG
Continues to race well even though at the veteran stage, and was close up here last Sunday when third behind Super Sharp and Delago Lad in a BM76 event over 1200m. Back to 0-70 grade here and has just the four rivals up against him. Regular rider Lek Maloney again has the steer and his 2kg claim will help in this assignment. The trip may be a little on the short side for him but he never goes a bad race and stable in red-hot form.
R6 # 2 ALTAR BOY
Was making good ground into sixth here a week ago over a too-short 1200m, and was only beaten 2.1 lengths behind Super Sharp and company. Had won over this trip of 1400m at his previous start in the Cummins Cup and getting back to a more suitable journey here will bring him right into it. The winner of seven races on the track, and five over the trip, is a quality galloper and he can return to winning ways in the last.
Selections
RACE 1 – 1, 2, 5, 3RACE 2 – 1, 4, 2, 5RACE 3 – 1, 2, 5, 3RACE 4 – 1, 2, 3, 4RACE 5 – 4, 1, 2, 9RACE 6 – 2, 6, 8, 1
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