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Live sport on SN this weekendSENTRACK: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday Best Bets for Darwin (28/12/2024)
Andrew O'Toole • December 27th, 2024 2:45 pm
A competitive five-race card comes up for decision this afternoon at Fannie Bay, Darwin, at the last meeting in the Top End (and the Territory) for 2024. Unfortunately, the meeting was reduced to a handful of races when the 0-64 Ladbrokes Wet Season Series heat failed to attract sufficient acceptors, however, the card is still a decent one with ten jockeys in attendance and an expected contingent of 36 runners to go around.
The day’s feature is the fourth on the card, the $25,000 TRNT Off The Track Handicap over 1100m. The open sprint has attracted a field of six runners, and I am looking forward to the Top End debut of former Ciaron Maher-trained 5yo Field Of Flutes.
The son of Deep Field from a Bel Esprit mare has a decent record in Victoria, having won four times and been placed on a further six occasions from 17 starts. He possesses plenty of pace and although he has not had an official trial on the Darwin track, his only previous start on a synthetic surface came at Ballarat on 14 July this year and he was successful after sitting just behind the pace in a BM70 1000m.
Although yet to win at this trip – he has only had the one start at 1100m – he was placed second last time out over 1200m, so appears to be fairly adaptable. He was purchased from a September online auction by his trainer Gary Clarke, and he looks a promising type for Territory racing. Leading rider Jarrod Todd teams with the newcomer who will jump from barrier two.
Conclave Prince, one of two in the event trained by Phil Cole, is fresh-up here, having not started since Darwin Cup Day on 5 August. He showed good ability in his first campaign in the Top End, and was a solid fifth, beaten six lengths, in the feature Palmerston Sprint behind Early Crow and company on 3 August. He was spelled after finishing down the track in the Lightning on Cup Day, and the winner of four of his 14 starts should be competitive here from barrier four.
Mr Have A Chat never goes a bad race, and Chris Nash’s 7yo son of I’m All The Talk will have the services of senior rider Stan Tsaikos here. He is a three-time winner at this trip, but has also bagged eight minor placings from his 18 starts at the journey. He has the outside draw to overcome but such is his consistency, he promises to again be right in the firing line.
Topweight Star Magnum, a stablemate of Conclave Prince, is another having his first start this campaign after competing with distinction in Queensland during late August and September. He won his last start at Bedourie, over 1000m, carrying 62kg and he is a quality sprinter who must always be considered. He beat Conclave Prince home in the Palmerston, finishing fourth, and then was fifth in the Lightning behind Rising Sphere and co.
Underhand is a newcomer to Darwin in the Tommy Logan barn, and the former Queensland-trained 5yo is a real speedster, having won four times and placed three times second from just 11 starts. She has only raced twice over this trip, finishing second once, so she will be an interesting runner. He’s The Ultimate completes the six-horse line-up, and the Chloe Baxter-trained 6yo last raced when eighth in the Darwin Cup behind Hadouken. He is better known over further than this but could sprint well fresh in the hands of Hannah Le Blanc.
The day’s opener, the Vale Sam Kavanagh Handicap over 1600m, could well be fought out by the Nash-trained stablemates Son Of Bielski and Seven Secrets, while Nash also has a leading chance in the last of the day, the Renew Your DTC Membership Handicap (1000m), with Valaroc, who should be hard to beat. Bel Suono, Lucky Dog and On The Charge, along with Swing With Junior and Miami Vice, are others with a hope.
The weather in the Top End this week has been pretty settled, with some cloudy periods, bright sunshine and the odd shower. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. The temperature is forecast to reach 34 degrees during the day, and 26 overnight, while 0-6mm of rain is forecast, with a 50% chance of any precipitation.
The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.40pm (NT time), which is 4.10pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.04pm (NT time), or 6.34pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 1 SON OF BIELSKI
Quality galloper getting out to a trip that he favours. His three runs back this campaign have all been over sprint trips, and his record at 1600m is three wins from six starts, including the St Pat’s Cup earlier this year. Has some weight to carry but back to a 0-70 he should be more than competitive. Sonja Logan takes the mount for Chris Nash, and that pair have combined well in the past. Hard to beat.
R4 # 3 FIELD OF FLUTES
Newcomer to Darwin with a good reputation. Won on the Ballarat synthetic surface three starts back over 1000m, and last-start second to Masterful at Seymour over 1200m on 27 August. Formerly trained by Ciaron Maher, he finds himself in the Top End stable of leading trainer Gary Clarke, and with Jarrod Todd aboard from a nice barrier, he promises to be very competitive at his Top End debut.
R5 # 2 VALAROC
Was only beaten a length when third behind Ny Kee and Lucky Dog on his Darwin debut on 6 December, and the former SA-trained 6yo should be improved by that outing, his first for three months. Drawn a little awkwardly here over the 1000m but showed good speed last time out and providing he can get a decent run in transit, can break through for his first Top End success for rider Adam Nicholls and trainer Chris Nash.
FANNIE BAY RACECOURSE (DARWIN) – GOOD
RACE 1 – 1, 2, 6, 5
RACE 2 – 6, 5, 4, 7
RACE 3 – 2, 1, 3, 6
RACE 4 – 3, 4, 5, 1
RACE 5 – 2, 6, 1, 3
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