| What | Alice Springs Cup Carnival – Day 4 |
| Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Friday, April 28, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:13pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Day 4 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival sees the fillies and mares take centre stage with the running of the annual $30,000 Queen Of The Desert Handicap (1200m) at 0-76 level. There are six races on the card, with 58 runners accepting, and it is indeed the calm before the storm ahead of the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on Sunday.
There has been no rain in the Red Centre since April 16. Partly cloudy conditions with 15-20km/h winds from the south-west in the afternoon are tipped for Friday with a top temperature of 30C. The rail will be in the true position and Pioneer Park will be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: EUREKA’S VICTORY
Backing up from last Saturday where the four-year-old gelding finished third over 1600m (0-66) – a race that he could have perhaps won had he not suffered misfortune. A first up winner in the Red Centre when he produced a late finishing burst along the rails to sneak home over 1400m (0-70) on April 8, the son of Epaulette jumped well last weekend and settled nicely among the leaders before striking trouble when the riderless Yowza turning into the back straight. Eureka’s Victory struck interference and was shuffled back through the field. The former Queensland galloper recovered and eventually worked his way back into the race before finishing strongly in the home straight to grab third place. If he can back up, Eureka’s Victory is more than a decent chance against three and four-year-old opposition as he once again has the same jockey, the same weight and another decent gate.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#1 Eureka’s Victory (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Nicole Irwin | J: Dakota-Lee Gillett (a3) (59kg)
Bet with Betfair
NEXT BEST: EIGHT ON THE DOT
Will not have a better chance when it comes to finally achieving that first win at the eighth attempt. The four-year-old gelding failed to fire a shot in his first two starts in the Red Centre in January before finishing 11 lengths adrift of Barani in fourth place in a 1200m maiden in his final appearance for the Lisa Whittle stable on February 18. The son of El Roca finished at the tail of the field when eighth behind Quizzle in a 1400m maiden on March 11 in his first start for Rene Taylor. Eight On The Dot then finished third behind Garrucha (March 25) and second Daniher (April 1) over 1200m at big odds – Garrucha and Daniher are clearly above average. A last start second over 1400m on April 17 when he came within a whisker of rolling Final Jedi suggests Eight On The Dot is capable of delivering that first win. If there’s a threat, it’s perhaps Paketta (54kg), who will lump 5kg less than Eight On The Dot.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#2 Eight On The Dot (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Rene Taylor | J: Wayne Davis (59kg)
Bet with Bet365
BEST VALUE: ZOUMIST
May not start as the favourite in the Alice Springs Turf Club’s feature for the fillies and mares, but is certainly in the mix if the five-year-old mare brings her best to the table. Had 17 starts in NSW for three wins – a 1400m maiden at Kembla Grange as a two-year-old before two wins as a three-year-old at Gosford against the fillies and mares over 1200m (BM64) in late 2020 and early 2021. The daughter of Zoustar rarely ran a bad race, just couldn’t get among the placegetters on a regular basis. Had one run at Eagle Farm last year for a seventh before arriving in Darwin. In her first three starts late last year, Zoumist managed a third over 1300m (0-64) before taking out the $40,000 Wet Season Series Final (1200m) at 0-70 level on Australia Day. A second behind Vunivalu over 1200m (0-70) followed before a fourth on debut at Pioneer Park over 1200m (0-70) behind the in-form Early Crow.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#3 Zoumist (2)
5yo Mare | T: Angela Forster | J: Stan Tsaikos (57.5kg)
Bet with Neds
Friday quaddie for Alice Springs Cup Carnival Day 4
Alice Springs quadrella selections
Friday, April 28, 2023
- 2-3-5-6-8
- 2-8
- 2-7-8
- 1-2-3-4
Investment: $120 for 100%
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