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Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Darwin (20/09)
Andrew O’Toole • September 20th, 2025 1:00 pm
The second of three meetings during the month of September takes place at Fannie Bay in the Top End today, and although the fields on the whole are not large in size, the five-race card nevertheless provides some decent contests and a number of promising horses will look to continue their winning ways. A total of 34 horses have accepted for the fixture, and with all riders declared, no scratchings are expected.
The highest graded race of the day is the Benchmark 76 1100m, the $23,400 Sportsbet Handicap, and 13-time leading trainer Gary Clarke holds the key, with four of the five runners coming from the Clarke Racing barn. Topweight Boldinho, who will carry 62kg and have the services of Jarrod Todd, looks the hardest to beat on paper but he will receive plenty of opposition from his stablemates Field Of Flutes, Pharoah Magic and Rising Sphere. Grand old stager Venting, trained by Kerry Petrick, completes the handful of acceptors in the event, and comes in here fresh off a third placing over 1700m in the Katherine Cup on 16 August. While this is on the short side for him, he has gone the odd good race over sprint trips in a fresh state.
Boldinho has had just the four starts in the Top End since relocating to Darwin from the stable of Ciaron Maher a handful of months ago. He made an immediate impression, winning on his Darwin debut over 1200m on 12 July prior to a fine fifth in the Palmerston Sprint on 2 August. On that occasion he drew the outside alley and was doing his best work late, eventually just 2.3 lengths behind the eventual winner and three-time Palmerston champ Early Crow.
Since then, he just failed to catch Field Of Flutes over 1000m on 23 August before blitzing his opposition over 1200m on 6 September, going on to win impressively by almost six lengths in a slick time of 1:07.38. He sat outside stablemate Devils Delights on that occasion and ran well clear over the concluding stages to record his second win at his fourth Fannie Bay start. The 6yo son of Brazen Beau looks to have improvement to come, and although burdened with a decent impost and having the outside barrier of five, he still looks the horse to beat in this small field.
Field Of Flutes, like Boldinho a last-start winner, has plenty of ability but has not always shown it on raceday. However, he put it altogether last time in the hands of apprentice Jess Booth when leading and holding on gamely to repel Boldinho over 1000m four weeks ago and even though up in trip by 100m, he is twice a winner over the journey. Hannah Le Blanc takes the mount this time and the son of Deep Field, who has drawn one place inside Boldinho, will no doubt look to hold his chief rival out before reaching the first turn at the 650m mark. He looks sure to race well again.
Pharoah Magic, after two good wins during the Carnival, was allowed his chance in the Palmerston and although only seventh, he was not beaten far and it was an effort full of merit. He has raced once since and was below his best when sixth to Field Of Flutes and company on 23 August, but he could easily turn that form around, especially with the 4kg apprentice claim of Deborah Barton, who rode her first winner at Alice Springs last Sunday. He is another speedy conveyance and has drawn inside both Field Of Flutes and Boldinho, so the start and the early part of the race will be interesting.
Rising Sphere is the fourth of the Clarke quartet and while his last couple of runs have been below par, he is a quality individual who has the ability to be very competitive here. He was in consistent form leading up to and in the early part of the recent Darwin Cup Carnival and would only have to reproduce his best to figure in the finish. Adam Nicholls, who knows him well, will have the steer today.
Of the other four events on the card, chances abound but I am keen on Mighty Zou (Paul Shiers) in the opener, the bet365 Handicap (1300m) judged on his good first-up effort over 1000m on the track, while Villa Royale looks the undoubted hardest to beat in the second, the TAB TROBIS Handicap (1200m). She has had just the three starts in Darwin for two fine wins and a second, and seems to have taken to the sand and oil-based track with aplomb. Le Blanc will have the ride again on the mare.
Fresh-up Starspangledancer and Debating look two of the hardest to beat in the six-horse Ladbrokes Quick Multi Handicap (1000m), while the programme is completed by the Vale Leanne Hartley Handicap, also over 1000m, in which last-start winner Oakland Raider makes plenty of appeal for trainer Phil Cole, who has three of the five runners engaged.
The weather in Darwin this week has been fine, warm and a little humid, as one would expect at this time of the year. There was even an overnight shower of rain earlier in the week. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. Light winds becoming west to north westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach 33 degrees during the day, and it will be 24 overnight. There is a 40% chance of 0-1mm of rainfall.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 1.38pm (NT time), which is 2.08pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.04pm (NT time), or 4.34pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 5 MIGHTY ZOULightly-raced 5yo who made a decent impression on his first Top End start on 23 August. Got back over 1000m on that occasion but made up plenty of ground to be beaten just under four lengths by Oakland Raider and co. The extra 300m here will be right to his liking and his canny trainer/rider Paul Shiers will have him primed for a bold showing in the opener from the ace draw. Will give a great sight.
R2 # 4 VILLA ROYALEStormed home from midfield to collar stablemate Patriotic King in the shadows of the post here on 6 September, eventually winning by a length over 1100m. This 1200m should be right up her alley and Hannah Le Blanc, who has had two rides on the 5yo mare for two wins, again has the steer. Drawn the inside gate and should be able to get a nice run in transit before unleashing a powerful home straight burst. Looks the one to beat.
R3 # 1 BOLDINHOGave his four rivals a hiding here a fortnight ago when sitting outside the lead and racing clear over the final stages of that 1200m to win by almost six lengths. Just beaten by stablemate Field Of Flutes at his previous start over 1000m. Talented sprinter who although dropping back in trip by 100m here, should be able to track the speed and possesses an irresistible finish. Has a good horse’s weight (62kg) but deserves it. Can win again.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 5, 1, 2, 6RACE 2 – 4, 5, 3, 8RACE 3 – 1, 3, 4, 2RACE 4 – 2, 1, 4, 3RACE 5 – 4, 2, 1, 3
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