Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Andrew O’Toole’s Sunday best bets at Alice Springs (27/07)
Andrew O’Toole • July 27th, 2025 12:00 pm
Racing returns to Alice Springs for the last meeting of the season in the Red Centre, and although Terry Gillett has the trainer’s premiership all wrapped up yet again, the jockey’s title is very much up for grabs, with apprentice Hannah Le Blanc and senior riders Sonja Logan and Paul Denton tied at the top with 26 wins apiece. Denton, however, will not be improving on that figure as he has elected to stay in Darwin today, so it will come down to Victorian Le Blanc, with a full book of five rides, and Logan (3 mounts) that look set to fight out the 2024-25 premiership.
Le Blanc, who has been a frequent visitor to the NT for the last year and collected her biggest win when guiding Haseltoff to a memorable Alice Springs Cup victory, has a great chance to finish the season with a flourish when she teams with Mi Mijo, chasing his fourth successive win, in the feature Ladbrokes Form Genius Handicap (1400m).
Will Savage’s rising 7yo son of Danbird has really come solid this campaign, and his last three wins have all been over 1600m in June and July. Le Blanc was aboard for the first of those on 16 June, while Stan Tsaikos (30 June) and Jessica Booth (13 July) have also guided the gelding to wins in recent times. Perhaps the only question mark over Mi Mijo’s chances this time is the fact that he is drops in trip by 200m to 1400m, but with only four rivals this is not expected to be an impediment to his chances. He got back last time and finished fast down the outside, and from the widest draw he is expected to be ridden conservatively and saved for the last run again. He looks the horse to beat with Le Blanc’s 1.5kg claim, which will reduce his weight to just 57.5kg.
La Vesuvius, after winning at his first Red Centre start back in mid-June, has finished twice third to Prophesier and Mi Mijo, and is also dropping back in trip from his last-start 1600m placing. The former Sydney-sider has been patiently handled by Greg Connor, and even with the topweight of 59kg, he looks the hardest for Mi Mijo to beat. Danielle Hirini retains the mount and from the inside gate, he should secure a nice run in transit.
Valley Prince, a stablemate of Mi Mijo, has had three starts for Savage since transferring from the Gillett stable, and he might just be ready now to put his hoof right on the till. The winner of a dozen of his 63 starts, his record over this trip is impressive, and Stan Tsaikos knows him well. He cannot be left out of calculations.
Darci Diva dead-heated three starts back at Tennant Creek over 1450m, but has since failed to fire in two outings. However, on his best form he could figure in the finish here, while Hot Sauce is a relative newcomer to the Territory, and the Viney stable representative would need to improve on his first-up run at Pioneer Park where he finished sixth of seven behind stablemate Bodmin Boy.
The first on the card, the Ladbrokes Red Centre Winter Series (Heat 6) over 1200m, looks a battle between the in-form Boy Big, last-start winner Bodmin Boy, his stablemate Tango Stepz and Only The Best, while the second, the Scope Building Handicap (1100m), provides River Frost with an ideal opportunity to return to winning form after a couple of minor placings just recently. He will not have it all his own way, however, with Arrogant Miss, Revolution Rising and Stella Bystarlight all in form and capable on their day.
Grinzinger Lass, a last-start winner for the Viney camp, will take plenty of beating in the “Remembering Mikala Club” Handicap (1400m), although Sheer Reward and Hebel will not make it easy for her, while in the last on the card, Better Not Fuss, with two seconds at his last two starts behind Mi Mijo, looks primed to return to winning form for trainer Paul Gardner and apprentice Lek Maloney.
The weather in the Red Centre this week has featured fine days and cool nights, but there was rain forecast for yesterday, although only a maximum of 9mls. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Morning frost. Light winds. The temperature is forecast to reach a chilly 19 degrees during the day, and it will be down to zero overnight. There is just a 5% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 11.42pm (NT time), which is 12.12pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 2.07pm (NT time), or 2.37pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 2 BOY BIGContinues to race well for the very much in-form Greg Connor stable. Has only been out of the first three once in his last seven starts, and even though now a rising 8yo, he is racing as well as ever. Danielle Hirini, who has been in good form as well recently, resumes her partnership with the son of Vancouver and as a seven-time winner over this trip of 1200m, he must surely rate highly again.
R3 # 2 GRINZINGER LASSLast-start winner here on 30 June in Class 2 company and in the same grade again over 1400m this time. Is one from one at the trip, and another most consistent galloper in the Ray Viney stable. Visiting Darwin-based WA jockey Kristo Sardelic, who rode last time, again takes the mount and in this small field, the daughter of Shalaa can keep her unbeaten record over this distance intact.
R5 # 1 BETTER NOT FUSSLast year’s Alice Guineas winner is getting close to a win again after some indifferent form earlier in the year. Last two efforts, both second placings behind Mi Mijo, have been first-class and no there’s Mi Mijo this time! Lek Maloney’s 2kg claim will be a big assist and he should lead and take plenty of running down over this 1600m, a trip he has won at three times. Looks very hard to beat in the last of the day.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 2, 3, 7, 6RACE 2 – 1, 5, 2, 4RACE 3 – 2, 3, 1, 5RACE 4 – 2, 1, 3, 4RACE 5 – 1, 4, 6, 5
What are you really gambling with? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
