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SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Darwin (14/06)
Andrew O’Toole • June 14th, 2025 12:30 pm
Another quality six-race card awaits us at Fannie Bay today, as the build-up to the Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival continues. Last week’s meeting was an excellent affair, and today’s fixture is similar in size and quality. With a dozen riders in attendance (and more to come) all horses are getting their chance to race as they further their preparations for the upcoming Carnival meetings in July and August.
The feature is the $25,500 ROANT Gold Cup Day 28 June Handicap, a 1200m open handicap, and it heralds the return to the Top End of last year’s Darwin Cup runner-up Wolfburn. The Gary Clarke-trained chestnut had a tremendous Carnival in 2024, with wins in the ROANT Gold Cup and Metric Mile interspersed with placings in the Chief Minister’s Cup and Darwin Cup, and his appearance today will be worth the price of admission alone. He will no doubt derive plenty of improvement from his first run this campaign, although he did have a race and a trial in South Australia in March/April to begin his preparation. He comes to hand quickly and a bold showing here would not surprise, although 1200m these days is no doubt on the short side for him.
Unfortunately, Alice Springs Cup winner Hasseltoff will not contest today’s race, having been withdrawn by his trainer Dick Leech on Wednesday. He will almost certainly resume in the ROANT Gold Cup in a fortnight’s time.
Nevertheless, it is an interesting eight-horse field, and there are a number of chances, but I have selected Bon’s Your Back to continue with his stellar form since coming to the Top End. The son of Bon Aurum, whose stock are so effective on the sand and oil-based tracks of the NT, has been very impressive in his last three outings, winning twice and being placed second over this trip behind American Jazz.
His last-start winning effort, over 1300m on 24 May, was a first-class performance, and with three weeks between runs, the drop back in trip by 100m should not be an issue for him. He is certainly heading in the right direction with the Carnival just around the corner, and his trainer, Chris Pollard, has his team firing on all cylinders. Hannah Le Blanc, who has won twice on the 5yo, is again in the saddle and she too is in fine form, combining for a double aboard the Pollard-trained runners last week. Bon’s Your Back has drawn a nice gate and should give backers a great sight.
Hardest to beat, and one of the more interesting runners on the day, is Convincebility, from the stable of Tayarn Halter. The 5yo son of Hellbent has only had three starts in the NT, and just the one in Darwin, but has shown good ability in each of his outings. He finished second, and a whisker off winning, behind Mr Have A Chat here on 15 March, before two excellent efforts in Alice Springs, finishing fourth to Lumber Punk in a WFA 1200m before a fine fifth, beaten just over three lengths, behind Dakota Lee in the Pioneer Sprint.
Jade Hampson, with 99 career wins to her credit, renews her association with the gelding, and from the inside gate and with the minimum of 55kg, he should make his presence felt, even though, like the majority of this field, there should be plenty of improvement to come.
Cinque Torri, formerly trained at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker, will make his Top End debut here and the 6yo son of I Am Invincible, now in the stable of Ella Clarke, has some solid formlines to recommend. He has not raced since 28 March when seventh, beaten less than three lengths, in the Musswellbrook Cup over 1500m, but he did trial nicely here a couple of weeks ago and could easily figure in the finish. Adam Nicholls, who was aboard in that trial, retains the mount.
Siakam and Pink Panther, stablemates of Wolfburn in the Clarke Racing team, are always a chance in a field of this nature, while Atlantic Ocean is a newcomer to Darwin in the Paul Shiers yard. He is a five-time winner from 29 starts and was formerly trained by Chris Waller, and his record, including a Saturday win at Doomben last year, is impressive. He has not had a trial since coming to Darwin, but Shiers will have him primed for a good showing first-up.
Supreme Attraction, from the stable of Terry Gillett, completes the line-up and he comes here off a last-start second, although well beaten by Venting, in the Tennant Creek Cup on 17 May. Although now a 9yo, he still retains a zest for racing, as evidenced by his recent fourth placing in the Pioneer Sprint in the Red Centre.
The DCOH Darwin Guineas on 5 July Handicap, a 0-70 1300m, is another competitive field and the Clarke pair of American Jazz and He’s Essential, who are both chasing a hat-trick of wins, look strong chances. But the hopes don’t end there, with Funnyifitwon, Beyond Ready and AS Cup fourth placegetter Crown Waters among others with definite prospects of success.
The weather in the Top End this week has been very pleasant, with cooler mornings and warm but slightly overcast days. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming south easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. The temperature is forecast to reach 30 degrees during the day, and 19 overnight, while there is 0% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 2.13pm (NT time), which is 2.43pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.05pm (NT time), or 5.35pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R4 # 3 DYNAMIC THEORYLightly-raced former Tasmanian 3yo who fought on well after a tough run here last week behind Vanguard Legend. Although beaten 8.5 lengths, was entitled to drop out due to the torrid run it received in transit. Showed plenty of pace last start and from barrier four, should again be prominent. Dropping back to maiden grade should assist his chances, and can get on the board at the sixth time of asking.
R5 # 2 KISSING SUPIDOCaught the eye on Top End debut when storming home late to grab second and not far behind Hey Little Sister in 0-70 grade on 24 May. Drops back to a 0-64 here and with that first run on the track under the belt, should be much improved and with Jarrod Todd riding for Gary Clarke, makes plenty of appeal. Drawn well and the extra 100m this time should have him right in the finish.
R6 # 5 DANGER MANBolted in here last time over 1600m when letting down like a sprinter in the home straight. Earlier runs over shorter distances in Darwin had been acceptable, and now he seems to have found his right trip, can repeat in a similar field to last time. Kristo Sardelic, who was aboard on 24 May, retains the mount and the Pollard stable has been on fire just lately, with five wins at the last two meetings in the Top End. Will give a great sight here for sure.
SELECTIONS
FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE (DARWIN) – GOODRACE 1 – 4, 2, 6, 1RACE 2 – 5, 3, 2, 4RACE 3 – 6, 9, 4, 2RACE 4 – 3, 1, 4, 2RACE 5 – 2, 7, 6, 1RACE 6 – 5, 2, 4, 6
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