SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Tennant Creek (17/05)

The annual “Two Cups” Raceday at Hagan Park in Tennant Creek is always a fixture to look forward to, being the only meeting held each year in the town of just over 3,000 people and 500km north of Alice Springs. Six races have been assembled for the meeting, and a total of 43 horses are likely to do battle around the sand course in the Barkly, a step in the right direction after 33 ran in 2024.

As the meeting’s name depicts, there are two Cup races on the day, the $30,000 Ladbrokes & Remote Concrete NT Tennant Creek Cup over 1600m, and the Little Rippers Lifestyles Discounts Denis Staunton Memorial Cup (1200m). The Tennant Creek Cup has attracted a strong field of nine runners, while the sprint feature has six horses engaged, and both should be competitive affairs to bring the curtain down on what is always a well-attended and popular meeting.

The feature event is the last of the day, the Tennant Creek Cup, and I fancy Darwin visitor Saccharo to make a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure. Trained by Phil Cole in the Top End, Saccharo is in the veteran stage these days, but the 9yo continues to perform with credit and even though winless since 16 March last year, he promises to race well on this sand surface. He won the Birdsville Cup over this trip on a similar track back in 2022 and with Wayne Davis, who knows him so well, teaming up with the son of Magnus, he promises to give a very good account of himself.

Taipan Tommy, who won this race two years ago when trained by Kym Healy, won twice during the recent Alice Springs Cup Carnival, once over 1400m and then at 1600m, and although a little disappointing at his last two outings in the Red Centre, he should be ready for another bold showing in the Barkly for current trainer Barry Cooke. Sonja Logan, who will be having her first day’s riding at Hagan Park, has been engaged for the mount and from an inside gate, Taipan Tommy will give his rivals plenty to worry about.

Topweight Great Buy, unlike last year when he had to carry 6kg more than his rivals, is better in this time by a half-kilo with 59.5kg on his back. He finished a close-up third last year behind Barocco Bar and Command King, and although better suited at 1400m that 1600m, he has been placed four times from just five starts at the journey. The winner of a dozen races is a quality performer and Dakota Gillett, as she did last year, has the steer. He will give a great sight as he races in or near the lead.

Last year’s Alice Springs and Katherine Cup winner Venting is another with an undeniable chance. While a little below his best during the recent Carnival in the Red Centre, his last-start third to stablemate Great Gust over 1400m a fortnight ago was a good pointer to a strong showing here, and Paul Denton knows this track like the back of his hand.

Mi Mijo, although up in class here, is one from one on this track, having scored over 1450m here in 2023. He was a long-priced winner on his home track in Alice on Cup Day and his two runs since, both third placings, have been very good. Jason Babarovich, the visiting Mt Isa-based trainer-rider, takes the mount for Will Savage, who seldom leaves Tennant Creek without a winner.

Supreme Attraction, a stablemate of Great Buy in the Terry Gillett stable, is trying 1600m for only the second time in his career, but the recent Pioneer Sprint fourth placegetter must be considered on class alone. Stablemate Rylan’s Pick has yet to fire in three starts in the Red Centre and is unknown over the trip, but Gillett wouldn’t have him here for nothing.

Murrajong Road and Silentdeel complete the nine-horse line-up, and although both capable on their day, a win would be a surprise.

The $25,000 Denis Staunton Memorial Cup over 1200m gives Brat an ideal chance to go back-to-back in this event. He bolted in here last year in the hands of apprentice Gillett, who will again be aboard one of her favourite horses. He was a fine second two starts back behind Zourata in Alice on Cup Day, and although only sixth at his most recent start behind the smart Great Gust on 20 April, he will be very hard to beat on this track.

Rhesus, down from Darwin with Cole Racing, has won his last two in the Top End and has really hit his straps lately, while Mathematics, who won in Alice on Pioneer Sprint Day, and Throw At Da Stumps, an Alice Cup Day victor in the Tried Horse Race, are others with strong claims in a great renewal of the sub-feature on the card.

The weather in the Barkly this week has been excellent, with lovely fine days and cooler nights. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. The temperature is forecast to reach 26 degrees during the day, and 14 overnight, while there is no chance of any rainfall.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 1.21pm (NT time), which is 1.51pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.25pm (NT time), or 4.55pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R2 # 4 PLAGUE STONE
Won this race last year before returning to the Top End to win again at his next start. Form has been a bit patchy since but his last-start fourth behind Miami Vice in the Top End on Anzac Day pointed to an imminent return to his best form. Winning form on this track must always be strongly considered as not all horses handle it, and from a good draw with Wayne Davis aboard, he can go back to back in the Barkly.

R5 # 2 BRAT
Like Plague Stone, back for another tilt at the race he won 12 months ago by over six lengths. Smart sprinter with a dozen wins on his CV, he has been up a while but continues to race well for trainer Terry Gillett. Daughter Dakota takes the mount here as she did last year, and with her 1.5kg apprentice claim, gets in well with 58kg. Will go forward from his barrier of four and will take some heading off.

R6 # 4 SACCHARO Veteran galloper who excels at this trip of 1600m, having won six times. Won the Birdsville Cup over this trip on a similar surface in 2022 and although he has not raced on this track, he seems highly likely to handle it, given his past performances. Has not won for a while but has not been far away either, and he is a quality performer for the Phil Cole stable. Will probably sit back in the run but watch for him late as he possesses a strong finish.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 2, 1, 7, 5
RACE 2 – 4, 2, 1, 5
RACE 3 – 6, 1, 3, 2
RACE 4 – 1, 2, 3, 8
RACE 5 – 2, 5, 3, 4
RACE 6 – 4, 7, 1, 5

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Image credit: Tennant Turf Club Facebook.