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SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Alice Springs (08/03)
Andrew O’Toole • March 8th, 2025 12:00 pm
With the opening day of the Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup Carnival just eight days away, an excellent seven-race card of racing awaits us today at Pioneer Park, with 60 acceptors set to do battle. The open 1600m, although only a five-horse field, is an interesting affair, as is the 3yo Benchmark 68, with the AS Guineas just a fortnight away. The 0-70 1200m, the second on the card, has also attracted some decent performers and should be one of the highlights on the card.
Hasseltoff, so impressive when winning here a fortnight ago over 1600m, tackles the same trip again but with the open handicap conditions of the Ladbrokes Blackbook Open, he gets in no less than 4.5kg lighter than he did when winning that Average Benchmark affair at his first start in the Territory. He should have come on for that first-up effort too, and even though he faces a couple of good performers in last-start winners Great Buy and Vinnie’s Spirit (both trained by Terry Gillett), Hasseltoff clearly appears one of the better chances on the day. That said, his trainer Dick Leech had what could only be described as a “dirty day” a week ago so he will be looking to bounce back here with some leading chances on the card.
Great Buy was too good for stablemate Kangaroo Court over 1400m a week ago, and is a quality galloper. He has yet to win at this trip from only three attempts, although he has been placed twice. Vinnie’s Spirit might be a better chance as he won at this distance last time out and has two wins from three starts at 1600m.
The other pair in the event, Hong Kong Fighter and Silentdeel, have ability but against the three leading contenders, look to be outclassed.
The Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup 6 April Handicap for the three-year-olds should be a great lead-up to the $50,000 AS Guineas over 1600m on Day 2 of the Carnival, 22 March. There are various different formlines being assembled here, with horses from Darwin and Adelaide joining those that have already had a run or two in the Red Centre.
Leech’s Boom Smash Opera hit the line strongly to win over 1200m in 3yo company a fortnight ago, and this 1400m looks tailormade for him. The son of Brave Smash will be ridden by former Darwin apprentice Jade Hampson, who has a good rapport with the trainer, having won an Alice Springs Cup for him aboard Write Your Name. From a middle barrier, Hampson will be looking to give Boom Smash Opera a quiet run in transit and he should be finishing strongly over the final 200m.
Point Loma represents the Top End, being trained by Ella Clarke, and his two runs in Darwin since joining the Clarke camp have been decent enough. He ran fourth first-up in late December behind Dancer For Money, then was narrowly beaten by Cherry Stem over 1200m on 25 January. He has been set for the AS Guineas so expect him to run well in this pipe-opener.
Forgetaboutit, from the Gillett stable, has been second then a close-up third in his two starts in Alice Springs after doing his early racing in Far North Queensland. He has to be included in your multiples, and like a number in this, is on trial at the trip with a view to the longer distance of the Guineas in a fortnight. Snore Room, from South Australia but now in the stable of Barry Cooke, ran second in a 3yo Benchmark 72 at Morphettveille two starts back over 1250m, and has not finished far away in recent outings in Adelaide. If he takes to the different track surface in the Red Centre, he could well be a giant-killer during the next few weeks.
Grinzinger Lass was really good when chasing home Boom Smash Opera and although still a maiden, looks to have a future, while King Bling, fourth in the same race, was hitting the line well and went down by less than a length. The Accelator, trained by Kerry Petrick, was beaten a fair way by Cavendish on 15 February but could improve – Paul Denton, who knows every inch of this track, will again take the mount.
The Ladbrokes Red Centre Luncheon 4 April Handicap for the 0-70 sprinters is a great field with many chances, and we should get a $4 or $5 favourite. Hurn Court will be right in the market judged on his last-start fourth to Beau Factor in a 0-76 1000m on 22 February, and second-up here, he will be highly competitive. Beyond Ready will have derived plenty of improvement from his first-up run in the open handicap behind O’Tycoon, Kangaroo Court and company, and is a smart 4yo, while Lumber Punk, trained by Gary Clarke and with Jarrod Todd to ride, has had a couple of prep runs in Adelaide and was not far away when sixth last time at Morphettville over 1200m. Cyclonite, who trialled here earlier this week, is another with claims, while Little Town Blues, Delago Lad and Better Not Fuss cannot be left out of calculations in an even affair.
The weather in the Red Centre continues to be very hot and shows no signs of abating, not today anyway. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. The temperature is forecast to reach 40 degrees during the day with an overnight low of 21 degrees, while there is a 10% chance of any rain.
The first on the six-race card gets underway at 10.39pm (NT time), which is 12.09pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 2.02pm (NT time), or 3.32pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R3 # 3 DOWN THE WICKETHas had a two-month break and returns here following his maiden win over this trip of 1100m on 5 January. That was his third start in the Red Centre and followed two third placings, also in maiden grade. Beat Revolution Rising last time out and that horse has since won twice and been placed second from just three subsequent starts. Hannah Le Blanc takes the mount and from the inside gate, he should be handy throughout and very competitive in the finish.
R4 # 2 HASSELTOFFBolted in here two weeks back at his first start in the Red Centre. Came north following a good campaign in South Australia where he won three times through times from November to January. The 8yo son of Toorak Toff took to the sand and oil-based track like a duck to water, beating Duty and last year’s Cup winner Venting impressively, and at the same trip again (1600m) he should again be the one to beat, especially as he drops in weight by 4.5kg.
R5 # 1 DANIHERWent a slasher first-up from a break of over six months when third, and beaten narrowly, behind Altar Boy and Black Zous over 1400m on 22 February. Steps up to 1600m here and with a fortnight between runs should be primed for a bold showing. 2kg apprentice claim brings him in well here and in this 0-64 grade, makes plenty of appeal, having raced well in higher grade during last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival. Promising middle-distance galloper who will take a power of beating.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 3, 1, 5, 6RACE 2 – 5, 1, 2, 8RACE 3 – 3, 8, 2, 6RACE 4 – 2, 3, 1, 5RACE 5 – 1, 4, 3, 8RACE 6 – 10, 2, 7, 1RACE 7 – 2, 3, 4, 1
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