Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Alice Springs (29/03)
Andrew O’Toole • March 29th, 2025 12:00 pm
Day 3 of the Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup Carnival comes up for decision today, and two crucial lead-up events to the final weekend features are the highlights on the seven-race card. The final race of the day is the $40,000 Red Centre Technology Partners Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m), which is a great pointer to the $110,000 Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup (2000m) next Sunday, while the day’s opener, the $28,600 Ladbrokes Racing Experts WFA (1200m), brings together some of the major protagonists for the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint over the same distance to be held next Saturday. The winners of both races today are exempt from the ballot for the two biggest races in the Red Centre, and the competition at Pioneer Park promises to be white-hot.
The Chief Minister’s Cup has attracted a capacity 12-horse field, and it brings together the form horse of the AS Cup Carnival to date in Hasseltoff and last year’s Darwin Cup winner Hadouken. While Hasseltoff has won his only two races in the Red Centre, Hadouken, from the Gold Coast, will be having his first look at Pioneer Park under race conditions. However, his canny trainer Peter Robl will no doubt have him primed for this important assignment, and I am leaning towards the latter to take out the day’s feature.
Hadouken really took to the sand and oil-based track in the Top End last year, winning first-up before taking out the Buntine Handicap and the Darwin Cup, both over 2050m. He was ridden by Jarrod Todd in the Buntine, and the Top End’s leading hoop goes back aboard the son of Real Impact today. He has had a solid lead-up to this assignment, with four runs under his belt in Queensland, and the most recent was a sixth placing, beaten less than five lengths, behind Diablo Bolt over 2200m on 22 February. Robl has obviously got the miles into his charge’s legs, meaning he will only need this pipe-opener to be at peak fitness for the Cup in just over a week’s time. From the inside gate, he seems certain to go forward and if in the form that won him the Darwin Cup in August last year, he will take all sorts of beating.
Hasseltoff, trained by Dick Leech, has not put a foot wrong in the Alice, winning first-up over 1600m on 22 February before repeating the dose over the same trip two weeks later. He not only won by almost six lengths that day, but he broke the track record and made Vinnie’s Spirit and Great Buy, second and third that day, look second rate. Apprentice Hannah Le Blanc retains the ride and the clash of the two big “H’s” will be worth the price of admission.
Darwin visitor Funnyifitwon, third in the St Patrick’s Cup in Darwin on 15 March, is a talented galloper who must be considered. He has yet to win at this trip but his last-start effort behind Crown Waters and Seven Secrets was full of merit and he needs to win this to be assured of a start in the Alice Cup. Better Not Fuss is another in the same boat – he was strong when leading throughout to score narrowly here last week over this trip, but he is taking on the big boys this time so will need to be at his best. Great Buy is a highly-consistent performer who cannot be left out of calculations, while Hettinger, fourth in last year’s AS Cup but perhaps better suited to this trip, Kangaroo Court, Prince Jofra, That’s Justified and last year’s AS Cup winner Venting are others with claims in a great renewal of the Chief Minister’s.
The big sprint lead-up, while not a vintage affair, promises to be keenly contested with the carrot of a Pioneer Sprint start for the winner an attractive prize. Convincebility, trained by Tayarn Halter in the Top End, was very good when just nosed out by Mr Have A Chat in a 0-70 in Darwin a fortnight ago, and the former Queensland-trained sprinter looks one of the leading chances. Like a number of his rivals, he needs to win to make sure of a start in the Pioneer, and with Raymond Vigar taking the mount, the son of Hellbent will give backers a great sight.
Veteran Supreme Attraction is racing as well if not better than ever, belying his nine years. Terry Gillett’s son of Supreme Class has a fine record over track and trip, and his last two runs, behind Flying Yishu and O’Tycoon, have been first class. Stan Tsaikos, who was aboard last start on 16 March, again has the reins and he should not be overlooked.
Lumber Punk, from the leading Darwin stable of Gary Clarke, flew home to finish third to Zourata here a week ago, and although this is tougher, he only needs to jump away with the field to figure in the finish. He raced well in Darwin during the Carnival last year and should be a major player, although his inside barrier may not be a huge advantage.
Local Delago Lad, from the Greg Connor barn, has been in career-best form of late, winning four of his last six starts, and adds further to the puzzle, while last year’s Pioneer Sprint quinella of Mathematics and Noble Magnate must be considered, as should Beau Factor, Brat and Pompeii Empire.
The weather in the Red Centre, after some rain early in the week, has been overcast with the odd shower since, with still a little rain forecast towards the weekend. However, it does not appear as though it will come to much. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a comfortable 28 degrees during the day with an overnight low of 17 degrees, while there is just a 20% chance of any rain.
The first on the seven-race card gets underway at 2.01pm (NT time), which is 3.31pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.40pm (NT time), or 7.20pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R2 No 2 GRINZINGER LASSStarted favourite for the Guineas over 1600m here a week ago, and after having her chance has to be content with second to The Men Went Home. Drops back in trip here to this 1200m and although backing up, looks the one to beat in this small field. Has never been out of the first couple in three Red Centre starts, and as long as that placing in the Guineas has not taken too much out of the daughter of Shalaa, should get back into winning form here.
R5 No 1 ICONIC MISSILEFour starts to date in Alice have produced two fourths and two fifth placings, and in this maiden affair, gets his chance to break through for his first win at start 21. Aaron Sweeney takes the mount for trainer Lisa Whittle and the son of Nicconi only has to reproduce his recent efforts to be the one to beat here. Drawn nicely and should be able to take up a handy spot from the 1400m barrier. Should be very hard to beat.
R7 No 4 HADOUKENLast year’s Darwin Cup winner, who was unbeaten in three Top End starts, makes his Red Centre debut here and looks very hard to beat under the weight-for-age conditions. Has had four starts in his home state of Queensland to fit him for this and his last-start sixth over 2200m at Doomben on 22 February was not a bad effort. Obviously handles the sand and oil-based surfaces of the NT, and with Jarrod Todd in the saddle, he looks very difficult to head off in the Chief Minister’s Cup over 1600m prior to his tilt at the AS Cup next Sunday.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 4, 1, 5, 3RACE 2 – 1, 5, 10, 6RACE 3 – 4, 1, 5, 7RACE 4 – 1, 9, 3, 4RACE 5 – 2, 5, 8, 10RACE 6 – 2, 1, 4, 5RACE 7 – 3, 5, 2, 1
Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
