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Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Darwin (30/07)
Andrew O’Toole • July 30th, 2025 12:30 pm
Day 6 of the Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival is up for decision today and unfortunately the meeting will feature only five races, with the 0-66 1100m failing to attract the requisite number of acceptors (5) when the fields were drawn on Monday. However, the remainder of the card has attracted good numbers, and there looks likely to be each-way betting in all races on the Dabble Cup card.
The $40,000 Dabble Cup is a 1300m event for the 0-76 gallopers and a full field, plus three emergencies, has been assembled. There were also three horses eliminated due to the excessive numbers, but thankfully there will be opportunities for those that miss out today over the weekend. Not surprisingly, there are a number of chances in the feature, but I’m keen on the Alice Springs visitor Great Gust.
Trained by Kerry Petrick and with Paul Denton to do the riding, the rising 6yo chestnut son of Trust In A Gust has an excellent record, with six wins and three seconds from just 19 careers starts. He has put together a fine record in the Red Centre, with three wins and a second since making Alice home earlier this year, and in his first start in Darwin on 19 July, he finished fifth of seven in the Weight-For-Age 1200m on 19 July. Lumber Punk was the winner of that event, and Great Gust was beaten a little over eight lengths.
However, he looked like he would derive good benefit from the outing, his first since early May, and he should strip a fit horse for this 1300m which should be right up his alley. He is obviously dropping in grade from that wfa sprint, and from the inside gate he should be able to take up a handy spot and be saved for a strong home stretch challenge.
Last year’s winner Shakattak must be given plenty of consideration in his attempt to go back-to-back in this Day 6 feature. Trained by Gary Clarke and to be ridden by Jarrod Todd, Shakattak has had just the two runs back this campaign, for a fourth and a fifth behind Rising Sphere and Tannenburg respectively, and he has been set specifically for this. He is twice a winner and twice placed second from seven attempts at this distance, and he has an inside draw of two which should give him every chance.
Pompeii Empire steps up in trip for this assignment and his last-start fourth, beaten just 3.5 lengths by Boldinho (a leading chance in the Palmerston Sprint on Saturday) was an eye-catching effort. Although yet to win over this distance, he has been placed twice from just three starts, and Sonja Logan, who has been in good form lately and rode three winners last weekend in Darwin and Alice Springs, takes the mount, replacing the suspended Jade Hampson.
Atlantic Ocean, trained and to be ridden by Paul Shiers, tried 1600m last time but failed to handle the trip when tenth, beaten just under seven lengths, behind Hettinger in the Palmerston Rydges Cup. He drops back in distance here and finished second over 1300m at his previous start behind Tannenburg, a rival again. He could certainly figure in the finish, although he has a wide draw to contend with.
Tannenburg, like Atlantic Ocean, disappointed in that same race won by Hettinger, but 1300m is far more to his liking, having won three times from nine attempts at the journey. Adam Nicholls, who has built up a decent rapport with the son of Russian Revolution, takes the reins and he has drawn a middle gate which should allow him a decent run from the 1300m barrier.
Stormfront was slightly below his best when only seventh in the Palmerston Rydges Cup, but his earlier form in Darwin, a second then a solid win, was excellent. He is a promising type and will have Noel Callow, having just returned from an enforced layoff, to guide his chances. The draw is not ideal though, but with Callow in the saddle, he cannot be left out.
Bon’s Your Back, Kangaroo Court, Galaxy General and Princess Pancakes all have claims on their best form, while Hell Fire Miss, needing two scratchings to gain a start, is racing well and could make her presence felt should she get a run.
The weather in the Top End this week has again been nice and fine, with some cloudy mornings and a little more humidity than is ideal for this time of year. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. The temperature is forecast to reach 31 degrees during the day, and 21 overnight, while there is a highly unlikely 10% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.44pm (NT time), which is 3.14pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.09pm (NT time), or 5.39pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 2 DESERT MISTContinues to race well and has a fine record at this trip of 1600m. Tried further last time when fourth, beaten 6.8 lengths, behind Cacofonix in the Buntine (2050m) but back to his favoured trip in this 0-62 grade, looks particularly well placed. Regular rider Adam Nicholls goes back aboard and from a nice barrier of five he should get all favours in the run and be very hard to beat.
R2 # 2 LUNA FIELDHas been a model of consistency in three starts in Darwin this campaign, with two good wins in 0-58 grade followed by a last-start second in a 0-66 1100m. Drops back in grade here to a 0-62, and Jess Booth continues her association with the Neil Dyer-trained 4yo. Booth’s 3kg apprentice claim brings him in very well at the weights, and he has drawn ideally in barrier two. Should be very hard to hold out.
R4 # 6 SAXON BEACHHas done very little wrong in three Top End starts, with three thirds behind Alpha Street, Rossanado and last time out over 1600m, he filled a similar minor placing behind the subsequent NT Derby winner Capitol Hill over 1600m. Drops back to 1300m here and should be seen to advantage from a middle gate. Wayne Davis has the steer again and looks a leading contender to break his maiden.
SELECTIONS
FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE (DARWIN) – GOODRACE 1 – 2, 8, 5, 1RACE 2 – 2, 3, 6, 5RACE 3 – 5, 1, 6, 7RACE 4 – 6, 9, 11, 1RACE 5 – 3, 9, 10, 1
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