Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (17/10)

A bumper day of racing throughout Australia will include a six-race card at Fannie Bay in Darwin, coinciding with the running of The Everest, King Charles and Silver Eagle at Randwick in Sydney, and the Caulfield Cup and Thousand Guineas in Melbourne. The local meeting is a ripper, and with no racing for a fortnight leading up to today’s fixture and a divided race on the card, the 47 acceptors are well above average.

There will also be some 13 riders in attendance, including interstate visitors Les “Bubba” Tilley (Queensland), Richard Bensley, Billy Cray and Angel Brennan (New South Wales) and Jess Booth from Adelaide, as well as Victorian Stan Tsaikos, who does most of his riding in the NT, returning from a bout of illness.

The second on the card is the $25,800 Pointsbet 5For25 Handicap, a 0-76 event over 1100m and the highest rated race on the day. It is a competitive affair with a mix of well-performed older stagers along with a couple of promising 5yo mares, Littlebourkestreet and Montjuic Magic. And it is the two younger horses that I believe will fight out the finish.

Littlebourkestreet, a veteran of just 19 starts including her last five in Darwin, has shown very good ability for trainer Paul Shiers. She finished second first-up in the Top End on 8 July before winning at her next outing on 29 July. She then bagged another couple of runner-up placings behind Cavern and Montjuic Magic in early August and early September, before a deserved win, with Shiers doing the riding for the first time on raceday, on 25 September.

She drew the inside gate on that occasion and was far too good for Bruno Bruno and company after sharing the lead throughout. She will have an outside draw of seven to contend with this time but such is her consistency and tractability, it is not expected to prove an impediment to her chances. She drops in weight from her last win to a luxury 55.5kg, and should again give a very good account of herself.

Montjuic Magic, who has had just 16 starts for five wins, five seconds and two thirds, was purchased by her trainer Chloe Baxter from the Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale conducted in Alice Springs on 1 May this year. Like Littlebourkestreet, she has had just five starts since, for four wins and a second, and she was twice a winner of restricted Magic Millions graduate races during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival. She then stepped out again on 5 September and after a good battle, got the better of Littlebourkestreet by a half-length over this trip of 1100m.

On that occasion, Littlebourkestreet covered extra ground in the running and arguably should have got the decision, but it is difficult to take anything away from the daughter of Starspangledbanner, who has proven a revelation since coming to the Territory. Montjuic Magic has drawn a middle gate of four and the clash of these two up-and-coming mares should definitely be a highlight of the meeting.

The chances don’t end there, however, with Gary Clarke represented by Flying Annie and Devils Delight, and his daughter Ella by topweight Struck Gold.

Flying Annie, now an 8yo daughter of Flying Artie, has proven a good money-spinner for connections since making Darwin home back in early 2024. She is the winner of eight races from her 40 career outings, and with ten seconds and nine thirds, has stakes approaching $230,000. She was close to her best form last start when going down narrowly to stablemate Field Of Flutes over this trip, and with Brennan’s 3kg apprentice claim, she gets in well with just 55kg. She is a game and tough mare who should be thereabouts in the finish.

Struck Gold, to be ridden by Jess Booth who has been aboard for the 7yo’s last three starts for a second, a third and a fourth placing, must always be considered in a race of this nature. She won at her two previous starts back in February and March and with three runs under her belt this latest campaign, should be primed for a bold showing. She will jump from a handy gate of two and look to her to be close to the speed from the outset.

Devils Delight, the second of the Clarke senior duo, is another with claims. His last-start fourth to Genetic Freak on 5 September was a decent showing, and Jarrod Todd, who has won three races on the son of Hellbent, goes back aboard this time. He is another with plenty of pace and from barrier three, he should make his presence felt.

The other runners in the event, Hamlet Von Snitzel and Zing To Win, would both need to improve on recent efforts. The Chris Pollard-trained pair have ability but their latest performances have been below-par and it would surprise if either was able to win, although Zing To Win’s last-start fourth, beaten just over four lengths behind Field Of Flutes, was an improved showing.

The weather in Darwin this week has again been fine, hot and humid but there is always a chance of a shower with the clouds building in the afternoon. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then tending northwest to northeasterly during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to 34 degrees, while it will be 25 degrees overnight. There is a 60% chance of 0-4mm.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 1.52pm (NT time), which is 3.22pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.06pm (NT time), or 6.36pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 1 MR MARRAKECH
Capable sprinter with a decent record from only 23 career outings. Getting close to a win again judged on his last couple of starts, which have produced second placings to Patriotic King on 29 August and behind Galaxy General over this trip of 1300m on 25 September. Well drawn here and regular rider Jarrod Todd takes the mount. Should be very hard to hold out.

R2 # 7 LITTLEBOURKESTREET
Tremendously consistent mare who has never finished further back than second in five starts in the Top End, and should almost certainly have won more than just twice here. Bolted in last time out over 1200m in 0-70 grade on 25 September and although back in trip by 100m this time, her record over the distance is excellent. Trainer/rider Paul Shiers has the steer and although drawn the outside gate, she does not have to lead. Can win again.

R3 # 3 BOLD SUITOR
Newcomer to the Clarke Racing team with plenty of upside. A son of Brazen Beau, he was formerly trained by Tony Noonan in Victoria and possesses a good deal of speed, which will be embellished by drawing the inside gate. Won his maiden at Pakenham and has been placed three times as well. Will give them all something to chase in his Top End debut.

SELECTIONS

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

What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au