Relentless hot weather has been a factor in the Top End throughout December, but that hasn’t affected numbers as the Darwin Turf Club prepares for its final meeting of the year on Saturday.
A total of 60 runners have accepted for the seven-event program at Fannie Bay, which exceeds the 59 starters that lined up for the seven races in 2017.
There could be scratchings on race day, but to have so many acceptances for the traditional New Year’s Eve meeting is a shot in the arm, according to Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole.
“Unfortunately, the meeting prior to Christmas last year was abandoned following a thunderstorm in the morning, which prevented ground staff from rolling the track before the first race,” O’Toole said.
“The track was left in a heavy state following the rain and it was rendered unfit for racing.
“The jockeys also deemed the conditions far too dangerous.
“We had eight races for the New Year’s Eve meeting last year with 65 runners – that’s after 11 scratchings.
“Take that out of the equation, this is the best New Year’s Eve meeting as far as numbers are concerned for seven races.
“It’s actually a really good program, pretty solid with decent fields.
“It’s not easy settling on winners with confidence and there will be each-way betting in six of the seven races.”
The feature race is an 1100m Open Handicap and although it has only attracted a field of five speed will certainly be a highlight.
Doc O’Connor from the Gary Clarke stable has had seven starts in Darwin for five wins and a second – and is aiming for his fourth win in a row.
Jason Manning’s Spanish Heirloom, who boasts respectable South Australian form, makes her NT debut, while Phil Cole’s Cielo D’Oro, Dick Leech’s Prince Of Mercia and Tom Logan’s Fromthenevernever will be aiming to end 2023 with a win.
“Doc O’Connor has drawn four and there’s a lot of pace inside him,” O’Toole said.
“You’ve got Spanish Heirloom, she will try and lead – it’s got good pace.
“It will be interesting to see if Jarrod Todd crosses or what he does on Doc O’Connor over 1100m.
“He’s a bit vulnerable over 1100m, but that said he has won three races from four starts over the trip.
“That was against his own age group as a three-year-old a few months ago – he’s taking on open sprinters now.
“Hard to say how the race will pan out, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Doc O’Connor and Spanish Heirloom go hammer and tong up front and it’s made for something like Cielo D’Oro or Prince Of Mercia to run home over the top of them.
“Fromthenevernever, he’ll probably sit up wide from gate five, but he was good when he won the other day.
“That was a 0-64 event over 1200m, but he’s taking on the big boys now.”
The final race, one of two 1600m races at 0-64 level, is also an intriguing affair.
“Few chances there, it’s an interesting race,” O’Toole added.
“The Albion has been up for a while and is probably in need of a break despite producing good form, but in saying that he’ll likely come out and win on Saturday.
“Spielberg should prove hard to beat – Prince Of Ruban, a last start winner, and Dip Me Lid are also decent hopes.
“Ankle Rolex hasn’t been racing badly, just hasn’t had much luck and in fact won during the corresponding meeting last year.”
The Kerry Petrick-trained New Roman, also victorious during the New Year’s Eve meeting a year ago, lines up in Heat 1 of the Summer Sprint Series over 1100m at 0-64 – which is also Heat 5 of the Lightning Wet Season Series.
Apart from Doc O’Connor, last start winners Shecanmixit, Wilsons Prom and Fly Nice will also bring good form to the table come Saturday.
Incredibly, Chloe Baxter’s Shecanmixit broke the track record for 1000m (56.02) in her Top End debut when she saluted in a maiden on December 8.
Significantly, a host of other new faces will have their first start at Fannie Bay on Saturday, which will cause punters further angst.
They include Gary Clarke’s Alpha Flight and Adelaide Fever, Ella Clarke’s Debating, Garry Lefoe’s Asterisk, Mark Nyhan’s Vascotto, Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes, and Baxter’s Enuff Red.
“I’ve seen most of them trial, except for Vascotto and Debating,” O’Toole said.
“Alpha Flight and Adelaide Fever weren’t asked to do much, so they will be interesting ones to watch.
“Debating and Enuff Red will feature in the same race – they’ve both got pretty good form.
“Princess Pancakes is the sister of NT Derby winner Anphina, while Asterisk arrives after two unplaced starts in Queensland.”
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