The richest race on dirt in Australia takes place in the Northern Territory on Monday with the running of the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) at Fannie Bay.
It’s the feature race on Day 8 of the Darwin Cup Carnival with a full field of 12 runners.
Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory chief executive ANDREW O’TOOLE and Darwin Turf Club’s racecaller CRAIG SANT run their eye over the race.
ANDREW O’TOOLE Darwin Cup preview
The more I look at it, the harder it looks as there’s a number of chances.
Luck is going to play big part, no doubt, and the barrier draw probably didn’t make it any easier to work out.
They go pretty hard from the barrier and there will be a lot of pace – He’s The Ultimate, Lake’s Folly and Wolfburn will go forward.
Obviously, Noir De Rue is going to take some beating from barrier one, but I can see that if he doesn’t begin well he could be three back the fence by the time they hit the winning post the first time.
Noir De Rue is the top weight and if Vanessa Arnott can get him into a spot and then get into a challenging position he’ll be there when the whips are cracking.
I do like Dick Leech’s horse Write Your Name, I think his preparation has been timed pretty well.
His run in the Chief Ministers Cup behind Noir De Rue was good and I’ve got him in the mix.
Might not be as good in Darwin as he is in Alice Springs, but that said Paul Shiers will give him every chance.
It could be fairytale stuff for Paul if he can win his first Darwin Cup.
Sanblas similarly is going really well.
His run behind He’s The Ultimate in the Metric Mile was very sound as was his Chief Ministers’ run.
Adam Nicholls takes the ride on Sanblas for Heather Lehmann, so I think he’s a big chance and a big player, that’s for sure.
Lake’s Folly, I don’t know if he’s quite good enough, but his win in the Buntine Handicap was good.
He’s proven over the trip, it won’t worry him.
Drawn out a little bit in barrier eight, he’s got Anthony Darmanin on board – he ran third last year aboard Vallabar, so I think he’s another with a big hope.
Wolfburn, he’s going to go forward and sit right up on the pace.
He probably needs a soft sectional somewhere to get a strong 2050m.
He’s not going to get that in a Darwin Cup, but Jarrod Todd will give him every possible chance and he’s probably another that will be right there at the 200m.
Neil Dyer has got two in it, Kaonic is the best of his two – hit the line solidly behind He’s The Ultimate in the Metric Mile.
He’s proven at the trip and in the race, he’s done his apprenticeship here in the Top End.
He’s been here a couple of times before for a fourth and a second, and the wide barrier is not going to worry him.
He’ll get back anyway and it’s just a matter of when Stan Tsaikos gets going on him, but I’m sure Kaonic will be there.
Grandslam was terribly disappointing the other day, but if the real Grandslam turns up he’d give them something to worry about.
It’s certainly an advantage to have John Allen aboard Grandslam.
Desert Lass, you can’t really leave her out of calculations either as she’s going well.
Carrol Hunter has done a great job with her.
She won on Cup Day last year in the 0-66 (2050m).
Ran just under a second slower than what Playoffs did winning the Cup and breaking the track record.
She’s a better mare now, she’s more solid and she’s another to consider.
CRAIG SANT Darwin Cup Preview
This year’s edition is one of the most open in recent history with most runners having solid recent form.
Wolfburn and He’s The Ultimate appear to be the only genuine leaders, although Grandslam may be ridden more positively to get his mind on the job.
Noir De Rue, Sanblas and Write Your Name have all drawn to get nice runs in transit.
Lake’s Folly draws a touch awkward but will grind out the trip, while last year’s placegetters Kaonic and Vallabar – the outside hopes – could show up again without surprising.
Noir De Rue is a tough campaigner who carries weight well and is drawn to get every chance.
Write Your Name has produced pleasing lead up runs after winning the Alice Springs Cup and jockey Paul Shiers may finally win the Cup.
Sanblas had a long time off prior to this campaign, but is capable of peaking on Cup Day.
Wolfburn and He’s The Ultimate are set to give a bit of cheek, but vulnerable late.
Darwin Cup 2023 betting tips
-
4
WRITE YOUR NAME
-
6
SANBLAS
-
5
LAKE’S FOLLY
-
1
NOIR DE RUE
-
4
WRITE YOUR NAME
-
1
NOIR DE RUE
-
6
SANBLAS
-
5
LAKE’S FOLLY
-
4
WRITE YOUR NAME
-
6
SANBLAS
-
1
NOIR DE RUE
-
5
LAKE’S FOLLY
-
1
NOIR DE RUE
-
4
WRITE YOUR NAME
-
6
SANBLAS
-
5
LAKE’S FOLLY
More horse racing tips
