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Andrew O’Toole’s SUNDAY best at Alice Springs (26/10)
Andrew O’Toole • October 26th, 2025 2:00 pm
An excellent card of five races takes place at Fannie Bay in Darwin today to coincide with two blockbuster meetings featuring The Everest at Royal Randwick in Sydney and the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne. Some 40 horses have accepted for the Top End fixture, with three each-way contests and some tricky-looking fields among them.
The feature, ironically, is the smallest field of the day, the bet365 Handicap over 1100m, with just five runners down to contest the event. The Clarke stables, 13-time premiership winning trainer Gary and his daughter Ella, have four of the five entrants, with the other, Peel The Stickers, having his first start in the Top End for Tayarn Halter.
I am keen on Clarke jnr’s charge Struck Gold here. The 6yo son of Castledale and the Pins mare Gold Charm will be having just his third start in Darwin, but he has looked a promising type with two placings to date.
First-up in the Top End he finished a good third behind Sunzou over this trip of 1100m, before finishing a nose second to Convincebility in a 1200m event on 26 September. He led on that occasion and was only collared in the last bound when looking certain to win. He should be further improved for that outing and even though dropping back in trip by 100m, that is not expected to be an impediment to his chances. Jarrod Todd takes the mount on the lightly-race gelding and he looks a leading contender in the third on the card.
Hardest to beat should be the first of Clarke snr’s runners, topweight Devils Delight. The highly consistent son of Hellbent just never goes a bad race – he has had 13 starts in Darwin so far, and as well as winning on five occasions, has not finished further back than fifth. From the inside gate he looks the likely leader and will take plenty of catching. Adam Nicholls, who has won twice on the 5yo from just four rides, will take the mount again.
Peel The Stickers in an interesting runner. Down to make his Fannie Bay debut, the 6yo son of Rubick, trained by Tayarn Halter, was the highest priced lot at the recent Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale on 31 July, selling for $40,000 to clients of the Halter stable. Although this trip looks to be on the short side for him – he has four wins at distances of 1400-1500m – he could show up in a fresh state, having not raced since 9 June. Raymond Vigar will have the steer today.
The two remaining runners, Pharoah Magic and Physical Graffiti, represent the Gary Clarke stable and neither is without a chance. Pharoah Magic, who raced so well during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival before finishing seventh in the Palmerston Sprint, has battled to recapture his best form in four starts since, but cannot be left out in this small line-up, while Physical Graffiti, who won two starts back on 23 August, is only lightly raced and could earn a cheque without causing a surprise.
Phil Cole, who has recently returned from an overseas holiday, has some decent prospects on the day, none more so than Frawley in the TAB Handicap and Snappy Sweetheart in the ROANT TROBIS Handicap. Both are in great form – Frawley has two wins and a second from his most recent three outings, while Snappy Sweetheart has won her last two starts – and stable rider Wayne Davis will be aboard the pair.
The weather in Darwin this week has been mostly fine and hot, with increased humidity and some heat showers mainly at night. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds east to southeasterly and light becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then turning north to northeasterly during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach a very warm 37 degrees during the day, and it will be a sticky 26 overnight. There is a 30% chance of 0-1mm of precipitation.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.22pm (NT time), which is 3.51pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.00pm (NT time), or 6.30pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R2 # 1 MATRON SAMSINGWas slowly into stride and did well to be beaten just four lengths into third on her Alice Springs debut on 5 October behind Mougenot. That was her first run since 23 June and bound to have derived improvement from it. Formerly trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, she looks a mare with a future and from a middle barrier, should be able to take up a good position in running (as long as she begins okay) and will prove very hard to beat.
R5 # 2 VALLEY PRINCEGetting close to a win for trainer Will Savage, who took over the training of the 8yo about seven months ago. Was not beaten far here a fortnight ago after trailing the lead and battling into fourth behind Frankfurt and company over this trip of 1400m. Has won on four occasions and picked up a further 12 placings at 1400m, and back to 0-58 grade with Ianish Luximon in the saddle, he makes plenty of appeal in this small field. Set for an overdue victory.
R6 # 1 MIRACOLIResumed from a let-up with a fine second to Frankfurt here over 1600m on 5 October. That was his first run since late August so should be improved for it. Drops back in trip to 1400m here but has won twice over the trip, and has seven wins overall on this track. Drawn nicely and has the services of Danielle Hirini, who has been riding in good form of late. Doesn’t appear the strongest field on paper and looks the horse to beat from a favourable gate of two.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 1, 3, 6, 2RACE 2 – 1, 4, 3, 7RACE 3 – 2, 3, 4, 1RACE 4 – 1, 5, 3, 6RACE 5 – 2, 5, 6, 4RACE 6 – 1, 6, 2, 4
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