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NZ Warriors in-stadium commentarySENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Darwin (24/05)
Andrew O’Toole • May 24th, 2025 12:30 pm
Racing returns to the Top End today after a fortnight’s break, and we are now on the cusp of the build-up to the 2025 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival, eight spectacular days of racing which get underway on 5 July. Following today’s fixture, there is another fortnight until we embark on weekly racing on 7 June, with no less than 12 meetings from that date through to Great Northern Darwin Cup Day on 4 August.
A six-race card has been assembled today, with three good-sized fields and three five-horse ones. Even though the small fields in half the card is not ideal, there are some quality performers down to do battle in those events, with the feature, the $25,500 Ladbrokes Odds Surge Handicap for the open class gallopers the opening race on the day.
The 1300m event brings together three tried and trusted thoroughbreds – Bon’s Pride, Siakam and Pink Panther – while the two relative newcomers to Darwin, Tannenburg and Bon’s Your Back, add plenty of interest to the day’s opener.
It is hard to go past the topweight Bon’s Pride, who has been so expertly handled by trainer Jason Manning since the horse was purchased from the 2023 Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale held in the Top End. Since that time, the now 5yo son of Bon Aurum has started on 15 occasions for six wins, six seconds and two fourth placings, with his only other run resulting in a 6th placing in the St Pat’s Cup won by Son Of Bielski last year.
He resumed from a break with a close-up fourth over 1100m on 10 May, but the step up to 1300m this time is certain to be more to his liking – he has won three of his seven starts at the trip, with two placings as well, and has never won in a fresh state. He actually drops in weight from his last-start fourth behind Flying Annie, and the 59kg he has been asked to carry this time should be well within his scope. Regular rider Vanessa Arnott continues her association with the bay, and the pair will give their many supporters a great sight.
Leading trainer Gary Clarke is well represented in the event with three of the five runners, and Pink Panther looks the best of his trio. The 6yo Real Impact gelding finished a meritorious second on his return to racing after an 11-week break when chasing home Canton Kid and going down by 1.3 lengths. Like Bon’s Pride, Pink Panther will be better suited over 1300m, having won at the distance once from five attempts. He is even better performed over further, and raced with distinction during last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival, finishing second to stablemate and subsequent Darwin Cup runner-up Wolfburn in the TAB Metric Mile and then filled the same position behind Venting in the Katherine Cup.
Bon’s Your Back, trained by Chris Pollard and like Bon’s Pride a son of Bon Aurum, has done little wrong in four Top End starts to date, with a win two starts back, a second and two thirds. He chased home American Jazz last time over 1200m, but had won over 1300m the previous start and will again give a good account of himself. Hannah Le Blanc, who rode him to victory on 19 April, resumes her association with the 5yo.
Siakam is getting towards the veteran stage, but the rising 8yo still retains his zest for racing. He won four starts back on 28 March, and has since finished fifth, second and third, his latest effort coming behind Flying Annie on 10 May. He can never be left out of calculations in a race of this nature.
The third of the Clarke runners is Tanneburg, who while up in grade is coming off a class 2 win over this distance on Anzac Day. He looks a promising type and only a 4yo, he appears to have plenty of upside.
The Welcome To The Dry Handicap for the 0-70 sprinters over 1000m is another intriguing affair, with Clarke’s pair Galaxy General and newcomer Kissing Supido taking on the very much in-form Super Famous, who has won three of his last four starts for Murray Bridge trainer John Peacock. Shecanmixit failed last time but that was out of character for Chloe Baxter’s mare and she should be allowed another chance.
The Great Northern TROBIS 3yo Handicap, another small line-up, nevertheless gives us the opportunity to see for the first time under race conditions in Darwin the promising All Inclusive, also trained by Clarke after doing his earlier racing with David Van Dyke in Queensland. He won his first start in the Jewel Prelude for 2yo colts and geldings at Doomben in February 2024, and has only had two starts since. He trialled well here earlier this week and it will be a surprise if he has his colours lowered in this 1100m dash.
The weather in the Top End this week has been very pleasant, with cooler mornings and warm, pleasant days. 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 32 degrees during the day, and 22 overnight, while there is a 10% chance of any rainfall.
The first race on the four-race card gets underway at 2.06pm (NT time), which is 2.36pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.03pm (NT time), or 5.33pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 1 BON’S PRIDEQuality galloper who will have come on for his first-up fourth over a too-short 1100m on 10 May. Had never won first-up previously and kept that run intact. Up to the 1300m here is ideal for the son of Bon Aurum – he has three wins and two placings from seven attempts at the trip. Drops in weight by a couple of kilos too for his last-start effort, and with just a 4kg spread from the top to the bottom in the event, he should get all favours as he seeks his eighth career win.
R4 # 1 ALL INCLUSIVEPromising former Queensland 3yo having his first start in the Top End. Won as a 2yo on debut in a good race at Doomben over 1110m in February last year before failing in the Todman Slipper Trial in Sydney on 9 March. Also down the track at his only start as a 3yo on soft going at Ipswich in early February. Formerly trained by David Van Dyke, he now finds himself in the leading stable of Gary Clarke and his quiet trial earlier this week over 900m was impressive. Looks the horse to beat.
R6 # 1 DESERT MISTRacing well of late and drops back in grade from last-start third to I’m A Dreamer over this trip on Anzac Day. Won his previous start in 0-70 company, and meets his last-start conqueror 2kg better this time. Was only beaten a length last time and with the weight differential this time, can return to winning form for Gary Clarke and Jarrod Todd. Inside draw is another advantage.
SELECTIONS
FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE (DARWIN) – GOODRACE 1 – 1, 3, 5, 2RACE 2 – 1, 5, 6, 4RACE 3 – 6, 5, 8, 2RACE 4 – 1, 4, 3, 2RACE 5 – 1, 3, 2, 4RACE 6 – 1, 2, 3, 8
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