| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, October 15, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:18pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Darwin Turf Club will host a six-race card on Saturday, October 15. Northern Territory specialist David White brings you his race-by-race betting preview along with free tips and the best odds available. First race is set to commence 2:18pm local time.
Race 1 (2.18pm) – $19,425 Melbourne Cup Day 1st November 0-64 Handicap (1300m)
Siakam’s record in the Top End can only be admired. In 14 starts, the five-year-old gelding has had three wins, four seconds, three thirds and a fourth, and he was in fact a last start winner when he posted a three-length win over 1200m (BM54) on August 27. He drops 1.5kg from his previous start and jumps from a better gate, which can only enhance his prospects. Siakam managed two seconds over 1200m (Class 2) in May and June before having three starts during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July where he finished fifth over 1300m (0-62), fourth over 1600m (0-62) and second over 1600m (0-66). Freddy The Eagle won last start in his Darwin debut over 1300m (BM54) on October 1. Brimarvi Rooboy is as honest as they come and has finished third in his past two starts. Former Victorian galloper All Stardom has had two starts for two fourths at Fannie Bay and must be respected. It should prove to be a competitive race as Afternoon Tea, Dream Weaver, Meadows Young Buck and Don’t Say It are more than capable of springing a surprise.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#1 Siakam (6)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)
$3.40 with Bet365
Race 2 (2.55pm) – $20,475 Oktoberfest At The Bay 22nd October 0-70 Handicap (1200m)
Global Wonder boasts good form at Fannie Bay as well and just gets the nod as the top pick in the feature race of the day. The five-year-old gelding has had 16 starts for three wins, five seconds, four thirds, a fourth and three fifths. Global Wonder returned from a six month break to post an impressive win over 1100m (0-64) on June 11 before finishing third over 1100m (0-70) on July 2. He tasted victory again over 1100m (0-70) on July 16 and was a last start second over 1200m (0-70) on August 1. His first-up record is good too, but he’s up in weight and has drawn the outside gate. Blueberry Boy might be jumping up in grade, but two wins and two seconds from 1100-1200m can’t be ignored. He is a last start winner over 1200m (Class 2) on September 10, drops in weight and jumps from the inside gate. Patria has always been competitive in Darwin and Illustrating Law had excuses last start and can bounce back, while Tsugaru was a narrow second over 1300m (0-70) two weeks ago. Swing With Junior and Don’t Wait can make a serious impact.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#2 Global Wonder (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Adam Nicholls (60kg)
$4.50 with Betfair
Race 3 (3.37pm) – $18,375 Book Your Christmas Party Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100m)
Hattan Man has been a marvel in the NT and returns to Darwin after racing on the grass at Kununurra in WA in August and September. That included two seconds over 1100m (RTG56 and RTG62) before a last start win over 1100m (RTG48). The nine-year-old gelding has starred in the Top End with a record of 44-6-12-1-5, while he has also posted a win at Alice Springs and a second at Katherine. In his last start at Fannie Bay on August 1 – Darwin Cup Day – Hattan Man finished second over 1100m (0-66) and his first up record is 10-3-2-1-1. Match that with his record of 23-6-6-1-3 over 1100m at the track and the former SA galloper is definitely in the mix. To The Point arrived from Victoria and was a first-up winner in an 1100m maiden two weeks ago. Light And Dark has had his fare share of minor placings in Darwin, but in 19 starts he has saluted once. Zip Lane has had one win in 13 starts in the Top End, but rarely runs a bad race. Expect A Hero, Hard To Excel and Lucky Dog are making their NT debuts, so check those markets.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 Hattan Man (3)
9yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Casey Hunter (61kg)
$4.80 with Unibet
Race 4 (4.15pm) – $18,375 Silks Darwin TROBIS Class 2 Handicap (1000m)
Virtuous Miss is having her first start at Fannie Bay and history suggests that debutantes sometimes struggle on the Fannie Bay dirt for the first time, but she brings good form to the north. The five-year-old mare has had 17 starts for two wins, seven seconds, a third and two fourths after racing in NSW and Queensland. Virtuous Miss achieved her two wins at Doomben in a 1050m maiden and Eagle Farm over 1000m (Class 1) at around this time last year, and was a runner-up at such tracks at Scone, Gosford, Ipswich, Murwillumbah and the Sunshine Coast. A fifth over 1110m (Class 2) at Doomben in July was followed by a last start third over 1000m (BM60) against the fillies and mares at the Sunshine Coast in August. Champs D’or had been racing well in Darwin and Katherine since late July, and can be excused for a last start eighth over 1200m (0-58) two weeks ago. Early Crow and Bolt Action are also on debut. Last start winner Cudjerie impressed. Minister is always competitive. Madame Romanov isn’t the worst.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#3 Virtuous Muss (5)
5yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Wiseman (58.5kg)
$3.40 with Palmerbet
Race 5 (4.55pm) – $18,375 Ladbrokes TROBIS Class 2 Handicap (1000m)
Bat Pad is the best horse in the race, but he has yet to win over 1000m in five attempts in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the NT. The five-year-old mare has been placed twice over 1000m and that was achieved at Fannie Bay on May 28 (third) and June 4 (second). The only time he has celebrated victory in 15 starts was in a 900m maiden at Newcastle in October 2020 and when they last raced at Darwin on October 1 over 1200m (0-58). Bat Pad finished third over 1100m (BM54) on September 3 and second a week later over 1200m (Class 2) in his other two starts in the Top End. Only has to continue from where he left off a fortnight ago to make it two straight wins. Pointo’s Pick returns after back to back wins over 1300m in April and May. Air Command has been admirable in five Top End appearances and was a last start fifth behind Bat Pad two weeks ago. Umfana saluted two starts ago in a 1200m maiden and Dream Chance saluted three starts ago over 1000m (Class 2). Former Victorian galloper Rock Wave makes his NT debut.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#1 Bat Pad (6)
5yo Mare | T: Mark Nyhan | J: Sonja Wiseman (58.5kg)
$3 with Neds
Race 6 (5.25pm) – $18,375 TAB 0-58 Handicap (1600m)
Prince Ruban has won over 1600m once and that was on September 3 (0-58). The five-year-old gelding was good that day before a last start fourth over 1300m (BM54) on October 1. He started his career in Victoria and failed to fire in seven starts. Debuting at Fannie Bay in June last year, he appeared in three maidens from 1200-1300m for a third and a fourth before a second over 1300m (BM54) in August on 2021 Katherine Cup Day. It took until his next start in September when he finally saluted in a 1200m maiden at Darwin. Prince Ruban finished unplaced in his next two starts before winning on Melbourne Cup Day over 1300m (0-58). Three races in SA and Victoria delivered zero before winning on his Top End return over 1300m (0-58) in May. From June-August, Prince Ruban had four starts for two thirds (0-58) over 1200m and 1300m. Red’s Mate was a last start third over 1600m, Zap has form over 1600m, Malibu Edition seems to be getting back to his best, Precautionary has had his moments, and Zou Der Zee will be well supported.
Best Bet
Race 6 – #1 Prince Ruban (5)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59.5kg)
$2.60 with Ladbrokes
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