Darwin Cup, Palmerston Sprint nominations released

Final nominations have been received for the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) and $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m).

There are 20 nominations for the Cup, scheduled for Fannie Bay on August 5, with 23 nominations for the Palmerston on August 3.

Each race will accommodate 12 starters and three emergencies.

The winner of the $50,000 Metric Mile (1600m) on Saturday secures an automatic spot in the Cup.

An automatic Palmerston berth awaits the winner of the $32,000 Flying Sprint (1100m) this weekend.

A host of Cup and Palmerston entries have also been nominated for the Metric Mile and Flying Sprint on Day 5 of Carnival.

Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive Andrew O’Toole is convinced that Bear Story will take some stopping in the Darwin Cup but that there were a host of chances in the Palmerston Sprint.

Bear Story, a six-year-old gelding, who started his career in Ireland before winding up in Victoria, was an outstanding first-up winner in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age level on July 13 when he prevailed by 4.3 lengths.

“He to me is the horse to beat – he might only be a $2 shot,” O’Toole said.

“I don’t think he’s going to be very long in the market, he broke the track record for the 1600m (1.33.95).

“You’ve got Noir De Rue and Wolfburn, they’ve been placed in the Cup in the past.

“Hadouken was good the other day winning the Buntine – didn’t run a bad time for the 2050m, so he’s a chance.

“Hettinger is another one, he won the Toyota Finance Cup (1600m) last Wednesday by seven lengths, but needs to win the Metric Mile to seal an automatic Cup start.

“Pink Panther, Tanaawol and He’s The Ultimate, he’s going to be on the cusp as far as getting a run in the Cup, need to win on Saturday.”

Masatora has qualified for the Cup after winning the NT Derby (2050m) last Saturday.

A host of sprinters are certainly peaking at the right time, including last year’s Palmerston Sprint winner Early Crow – victorious over 1200m at weight-for-age level last Saturday.

Ideas Man, second in the 2023 Palmerston Sprint, is also a last-start winner, while Dakota Lee, who has 10 wins from 10 starts in Alice Springs, will make her Top End debut in the NT’s feature race for sprinters.

“Dakota Lee won her trial here this morning (Tuesday), it was only 900m and she went through the line OK,” O’Toole said.

“Whether she’s going to handle the pressure in the Palmerston, I don’t know, but she’s done everything right so far.

“Gary Clarke’s trio Rising Sphere, Seguso and Spaceship are also big hopes.

“Rising Sphere has been targeted for the race, Seguso is a pretty handy horse and Spaceship, who was disappointing on Saturday at weight-for-age, can bounce back.”

2024 Darwin Cup Nominations

2024 Palmerston Sprint Nominations

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