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Andrew O’Toole’s Wednesday best bets at Darwin (29/07)
Andrew O’Toole • July 29th, 2026 12:00 pm
Day 6 of the 2026 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival, Dabble Cup Day, comes up for decision today, with just the big Cup weekend left in the Carnival after today before it is all over for another year. Some 60 horses have accepted for today’s fixture, with a good number of them also nominated for either or both of the last two meetings. With massive numbers entered over the weekend, it is fair to say that those down to race today will almost certainly run, as there will be some disappointed connections with horses on Days 7 and 8 that may not get a run.
The $45,000 Dabble Cup has attracted a capacity line-up, with 12 horses accepting for the 1300m event. There are numerous different formlines all coming together in the feature so it is a tricky contest to work out, but I have settled on the Gary Clarke-trained Wallenda to prove hardest to beat.
The rising 6yo son of Trapeze Artist has only been in the Top End a short time, but has shown enough in his only two Darwin starts to rate highly here. He won first-up over 1100m in 0-70 company on Day 1 of the Carnival (4 July) before being tested against weight-for-age company a fortnight later. He and his fellow competitors had the misfortune to come up against Balastier in that 1200m, with the track record being smashed and the entire field being run off their feet by Chloe Baxter’s flying machine, who ran 1:06.79 to set fresh figures for the distance.
That said, Wallenda finished fifth and only 2.5 lengths from second-placed Cinque Torri, with Boldinho and Great Buy the others ahead of him. There are none of that calibre in this event and the 1300m should be more to his liking with a less frenetic pace assured. Jarrod Todd goes back aboard this time – Richard Bensley had the steer when he last raced – and from a good barrier of three, he should get a nice run in transit and can be strong late.
Anson Bay, backing up from an unlucky third on Saturday, will give Wallenda plenty to worry about, even from the extreme outside gate of 12. Chris Nash’s rising 5yo son of Written Tycoon has had just the four starts in Darwin for a win two starts back over this distance, two seconds and a third. He finished second to Wallenda on his second Top End start, but was slowly into stride and arguably should have won on that occasion over 1100m.
Then last Saturday, he again bungled the start, rearing just as it was effected, and to finish as close as he did to Zourata, beaten just 1.3 lengths into third, was a tremendous effort. As long as he has come through those exertions in good order – and he must have or his trainer would certainly not be running here – then he should again give a good account of himself. Bensley takes the mount yet again.
Time To Baca, second at her last two outings including a fine effort behind Rossanado in the Rosebowl on Ladies’ Day, is a talented mare in the Phil Cole stable. She is lightly-raced – today will be just her 13th career start – but she already has three wins, four seconds and a third to her credit. She is twice a winner from five attempts at 1300m. Jade Hampson has been aboard the mare at both starts this campaign and she will again have the steer from a widish gate of ten.
Bon’s Your Back could put some value into the trifecta and first four. He was doing his best work late behind Runaway Tycoon on 18 July and was in fine form at this time last year. Now in the stable of Tommy Logan, who trained his first 2026 Carnival winner last Saturday with Jumping Power Two, Bon’s Your Back will have the services of Hannah Le Blanc and from a middle gate of six, cannot be left out of calculations.
Shisuta Bo has done little wrong in two Top End starts, winning at his first outing on 20 June before finishing fourth to Maxxi Bon over 1600m on Day 1 (4 July). Maxxi Bon has since gone on to win the Buntine and qualify for the Darwin Cup, so that is a solid formline for Shisuta Bo, who is trained by Kym Healy. Ianish Luximon will do the riding.
Orion The Hunter seldom goes a bad race and is another with claims, while Rosebowl winner Rossanado, despite a wide draw, must be considered, as must Awash, the second of the Clarke Racing representatives. Princess Pancakes, from the Metric Mile-winning stable of Kerry Petrick, often bobs up at a price, while Lucky Fortuna, a previous winner of the Rosebowl over this distance, is another with claims to success.
The weather in Darwin this week continues to be perfect Dry Season weather, with lovely days and cooler nights. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the middle of the day. The temperature is forecast to reach a lovely 31 degrees, while it will be just 21 degrees overnight. There is no chance of any rain.
The first race on the seven-race card gets underway at 1.34pm (NT time), which is 2.04pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.07pm (NT time), or 5.37pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 2 GARRIX
Held up momentarily around the corner in the NT Derby before finishing off well into third behind Leveraged Buyout and Crazy Town. Drops back in trip to 1600m here but racing extra well and should give a great sight again. Has drawn the outside so will probably have to do some early work to get into a handy position, but will be strong late over the trip and prove very hard to beat.
R5 # 6 LITTLEBOURKESTREET
Created a good impression on Top End debut when finishing strongly to grab second, beaten 1.3 lengths, to Auxiliary, who has since come out and raced well again. Lightly-raced mare who should be improved for that first-up effort on the Fannie Bay surface. Deborah Barton retains the mount and from the inside gate, should get all favours and can break through at the second time of asking in the Territory.
R7 # 2 WALLENDA
Was a narrow winner at his first Darwin start on Day 1 of the Carnival, then like the whole field, was run off his legs by track record-setter Balastier in the WFA 1200m on 18 July. This is easier and the 1300m should be far more suitable. Jarrod Todd retains the mount for Gary Clarke, who has won this race on no less than five occasions. Good draw will see him prominent for a long way in the feature.
SELECTIONS
FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE (DARWIN) – GOOD
RACE 1 – 2, 5, 3, 1RACE 2 – 2, 1, 4, 5RACE 3 – 5, 1, 6, 2RACE 4 – 2, 3, 1, 8RACE 5 – 6, 2, 1, 5RACE 6 – 9, 4, 6, 7RACE 7 – 2, 7, 11, 8
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