| What | NT Derby Day 2022 |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, July 16, 2022 |
| First Race | 1:52pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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We are back at Fannie Bay this Saturday for the 2022 NT Derby, which headlines a seven-part card on Day 4 of the Darwin Cup Carnival. See our race-by-race preview and best bets for the day.
Race 1 (1.52pm) – $25,000 Mittys 0-66 Handicap (1600m)
Mangione has had three runs since arriving in the Top End and is backing up after a solid fourth behind Wicked Addiction over 1600m (0-62) last Saturday. After a fifth over 1200m (0-58) on June 11 and a fourth over 1600m (0-70), the six-year-old gelding won’t be short on fitness and before arriving in the NT he wasn’t all that far away in four appearances in the bush in Victoria from 1600-2000m in January and February. Mangione last won over 1815m (Class 6) at Eagle Farm in June 2020, but his form stacks up against his rivals. Jet Jackson was outstanding in Darwin and Alice Springs from December to May, so he is capable of hitting back after two last start flops. Dataset arrives from Alice Springs and should prove competitive, while Malibu Edition finished second over 1600m against fellow three-year-olds (0-64) two weeks ago. Wilsons Prom – who was a Darwin Guineas disappointment – and Feed The Monster must be respected.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#5 Mangione (4)
6yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (56kg)
$4.60 with Bet365
Race 2 (2.24pm) – $25,000 Ladbrokes Mates Mode 0-62 Handicap (1300m)
Siakam jumps from the outside barrier in the nine-horse field, but he hasn’t been too far away after two seconds over 1200m (Class 2) on May 21 and June 18. The four-year-old gelding has had 10 starts at Fannie Bay for two wins, three seconds and three thirds from 1200-2050m, so at least he’s consistent. Siakam posted two thirds over 1300m last year. The first was in June when he trailed future Darwin Guineas winner Trident and future NT Derby winner Sanblas across the line at a three-year-old level (0-66) and the second was in October (0-64) when Salty prevailed. Brimarvi Rooboy has performed with distinction in his past four starts this year, which included a narrow win over 1300m (0-58) on July 2 after returning from a three month spell. Southern Bolt and Mr Boomjangles never wave the white flag, but neither horse has won a race in ages. Champs D’Or was a last start third against fellow fillies and mares over 1200m.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#3 Siakam (9)
4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59.5kg)
$2.80 with Bet365
Race 3 (3.04pm) – $34,000 Silks Darwin Weight For Age (1200m)
Eastwood boasts a phenomenal record at Fannie Bay having posted six wins, seven seconds and two thirds from 19 starts from 1000-1200m. The eight-year-old gelding has in fact had 12 wins from 46 career starts having tasted three wins in Singapore and Alice Springs. Surprisingly, he never saluted in 10 starts in Victoria after leaving Singapore and before arriving in the NT. Eastwood returned from a seven month spell in April where he finished second behind Devils’ Temptation in open company (1000m) in Alice Springs before finishing second behind Smuggling in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on Alice Springs Cup Day (May 1). It was then back to Darwin where he trailed Syncline in open company (1100m) two weeks ago. As with Eastwood, fellow sprinters Smuggling, Devil’s Temptation and Patria have the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) in mind come July 30. Military Zone would prefer further ground, but you never know.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 Eastwood (3)
8yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (58.5kg)
$1.80 with Bet365
Race 4 (3.43pm) – $25,000 Sign City 0-70 Handicap (1100m)
El Magnificence, along with several others in the race, will be eyeing off victory in their quest to qualify for the Palmerston Sprint. The seven-year-old gelding arrived in March from South Australia and won three of his first five starts. His wins were over 1100m on March 19 (0-58) and May 7 (0-64) before he saluted over 1200m (0-70) on May 28 downing Tugga War and Valentina Star. In that May 7 race, El Magnificence defeated Ideas Man and Smartkap. Tugga War, Valentina Star, Ideas Man and Smartkap are all last start winners. El Magnificence has never won beyond 1200m, so a last start fourth over 1300m (0-76) behind Halgard perhaps came as no surprise. In his other two Darwin starts over 1200m, he finished third on each occasion. Global Wonder is racing well and Don’t Wait has an outstanding first up record following a spell. Adorandancer can bounce after a last start failure. Papalet, Telekinesis and Glock can surprise.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#4 El Magnificence (6)
7yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Wayne Davis (59kg)
$3 with Bet365
Race 5 (4.15pm) – $25,000 Darwin Racing 0-58 Handicap (1100m)
Hard Ransom debuted at Fannie Bay on June 25 and could not have been more impressive when he easily accounted for his rivals over 1200m (0-58). The four-year-old gelding only has to pick up from where he left off that day and he will prove tough to beat. The Irwin stable has once again struck form during the Darwin Cup Carnival and Wiseman, who was aboard Hard Ransom when he experienced NT conditions for the first time, rode a lazy four winners on Wednesday. Hard Ransom’s form in South Australia didn’t exactly grab the eye, but his three length win three weeks ago was emphatic. Real Valentia is backing up from last Saturday where he fell by the barest of margins to Expert Witness over 1000m (0-58) and he has clearly brought his good Alice Springs form to the Top End. Settling on a trifecta or a first four might not be the easiest task as Chief Mondo, Wild Rover, Hattan Man and Light And Dark aren’t exactly out of it.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#4 Hard Ransom (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Nicole Irwin | J: Sonja Wiseman (58.5kg)
$3.40 with Bet365
Race 6 (4.55pm) – $50,000 Sitzler Buntine Handicap (2050m)
Tugga War has won seven races from 34 career starts (1100-2050m) – he has finished among the minor placings 12 other times. In Darwin, the six-year-old gelding’s record is good – seven starts for four wins and two seconds. Tugga War arrived from Victoria last year and in four starts from June to August finished second behind Rockatomic over 1100m (0-64) and won over 1600m (0-62) before saluting over 2050m (0-66) on Darwin Cup Day. Two weeks later he finished fourth in the Broome Cup (2200m) and was spelled. A second behind El Magnificence over 1200m (0-70) on May 28 was followed by two wins over 1300m (0-70) on June 11 and 1600m (0-72) on July 2. Danon Roman, second in the Darwin Cup (2050m) last year, should figure prominently. Tasmania’s Vallabar, Gone Bye, Orcein, Yesugei and Lotion will be an eyeing a Cup start on August 1. A big test for Boom Boom Sweet, Wicked Addiction and Zouzouzalo.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#4 Tugga War (6)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (56.5kg)
$2.30 with Bet365
Race 7 (5.31pm) – $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby (2050m)
Rising Fire arrived in the NT from Queensland and the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and NT Derby were at the top of his list. Sitting at the tail of the field with 800m to go in the Guineas on July 2, the three-year-old gelding stuck to the rails before weaving his way through the field to produce a blistering finish and claim second prize. Wolfburn won the race that day and after crossing from barrier 10 to take the lead he was never headed before claiming a four length victory. Before that spectacular win, Wolfburn won his first race at the 14th attempt when he won a 1200m maiden on debut at Fannie Bay on June 4 and that was followed by a fourth over 1600m (0-58) a fortnight later. Wolfburn might have the engine to win the Derby and thus enhance his prospects of taking out the Ladbrokes Triple Crown by winning the Guineas, Derby and Darwin Cup (2050m). Giving the nod to Rising Fire after finishing a narrow second over 2000m (Class 3) on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track on May 15 before contesting the Guineas. Starlite Valley and Zoomurudi followed Wolfburn and Rising Fire across the line in the Guineas and must be considered. Sirocco Gale finished well for fifth in the Guineas, Max Fire is a chance if he can re-produce his good South Australian form, and Marvelous Night rolled fellow three-year-olds over 1600m (0-64) on July 2.
Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#3 Rising Fire (11)
3yo Gelding | T: Billy Healey | J: Paul Shiers (58kg)
$4.40 with Bet365
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