| What | Darwin Cup Day 2024 |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Monday, August 5, 2024 |
| First Race | 11:52am ACST |
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It’s grand final day in the Top End. It’s Darwin Cup Day with 125 horses accepting for the 10-event card. An outstanding meeting with a plethora of hopes in every race, the main race is the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m). The general consensus is that Neil Dyer’s Bear Story and Gary Clarke’s Wolfburn will battle it out for honours. The forecast is for sunny conditions and light winds with a top temperature of 31C. The rail will be in its true position, and it will be a good dirt surface.
Darwin Cup Tip: Bear Story
The former Irish styer Bear Story is the favourite for the NT’s biggest race, and justifiably so after a spectacular debut win at Fannie Bay. He smashed the opposition by 4.3 lengths in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age on July 13, and not only did the son of Kodiac leave his rivals in his wake, but he also broke the track record clocking 1.33.95. The Chief Minister’s Cup has always been an excellent Darwin Cup guide, with 10 horses achieving the double since 2000. Bear Story carries an additional 2kg on Monday and will likely start from the inside gate. The seven-year-old should have far too much class.
Darwin Cup
Race 10 – 
#1 Bear Story (1)
7yo Gelding | T: Neil Dyer | J: Noel Callow (61kg)
Bet with Picklebet
BEST BET: He’s Maverick
Drawing gate 11 probably proved the difference between the four-year-old gelding winning or losing the NT Derby (2050m) on July 20. Forced to the back of the field in his first race start beyond 1600m to save energy, the son of Ambidexter rounded the field at the 600m before falling short when finishing 1.5 lengths adrift of Masatora in second place. In two previous Fannie Bay starts, He’s Maverick toppled fellow three-year-olds over 1300m before taking out the Darwin Guineas (1600m).
Best Bet
Race 9 – 
#1 He’s Maverick (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Kym Healy | J: Sonja Logan (61kg)
Bet with Bet365
NEXT BEST: Debating
Debating has been a model of consistency in the Top End and was desperately unlucky not to make it back-to-back wins on July 27 when pipped at the post over 1200m (0-58). The son of Reward For Effort had the inside gate and never left the fence before skipping clear turning for home after sharing the early lead. Lotto Fight (56.5kg) powered home late to nail Debating (58.5kg). That made it four seconds from seven starts in Darwin after saluting in a 1200m maiden on July 13
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#3 Debating (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Ella Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59.5kg)
Bet with PlayUp
BEST VALUE: Pop Magic
Stepping up in class, the son of Wandjina was sitting third before finishing with a wet sail to claim second place behind Canton Kid over 1000m (0-76) on June 29. Pop Magic once again settled third over 1200m (0-76) on July 13 before fading in the home straight to finish sixth behind Kerioth. Prior to that, the six-year-old had claimed three wins and three seconds from its six previous starts. Since arriving from NSW, he has had 17 starts for six wins and five seconds.
Best Value
Race 1 – #3 Pop Magic (4)
6yo Gelding | T: Ella Clarke | J: Stan Tsaikos (60kg)
Bet with Neds
Monday Darwin quaddie tips – 5/8/2024
Darwin quadrella selections
Monday, August 5, 2024
- 4-5-8-10-12-13
- 1-4-5-6-9
- 1-4-8-13
- 1-3-10-11
Horse racing tips
