| What | Alice Springs Races |
| Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Sunday, September 25, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:23pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Alice Springs Turf Club will host a six-race card on Sunday, September 25. Northern Territory specialist David White brings you his race-by-race betting preview along with free tips and the best odds available. First race is set to commence 2:23pm local time.
Race 1 (2.23pm) – $18,375 Red Centre Technology Partners 0-58 Handicap (1200m)
Captain Bridges could not have been more impressive on his Alice Springs debut when he overcame the opposition by almost five lengths over 1100m (0-58) on September 11. Only has to repeat that performance and the 6YO gelding will make it back to back wins at Pioneer Park. Captain Bridges, who was highly competitive in three starts during the Darwin Cup Carnival last year without registering a win, brought respectable form to town from Port Augusta and surprisingly his first up win in the Red Centre was just his second in 25 career starts. Brat’s form has been erratic, but he was a last start winner over 1200m (Class 2) a fortnight ago. Kenneth hasn’t won a race since April last year, but it’s hard to fault his recent form and he was a last second behind Captain Bridges two weeks ago. Speed Wheel, Rhythmical, Harbour Express, Lisa and Bean Shoppin’ are by no means out of it in what should be an interesting race.
Best Bet
Race 1 – #1 Captain Bridges (4)
6yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Jessie Philpot (59.5kg)
$2.80 with Bet365
Race 3 (3.26pm) – $20,475 Indervon Petroleum 0-70 Handicap (1000m)
Vega Prince is having his first Pioneer Park start and although winless he wasn’t all that far away in his NSW races. The 4YO gelding debuted at Canterbury in February last year where he finished sixth in an 1100m maiden. Vega Prince had a long break before returning to action in November where he finished ninth in a 1400m maiden at Rosehill before a fourth in a 1400m maiden at Randwick’s Kensington course and a fourth in a 1550m maiden at Canterbury in December. Vega Prince then finished third in a 1600m maiden at Nowra on New Year’s Eve before finishing unplaced in two maidens at Goulburn (1300m) and Hawkesbury (1400m) in June. Bold Tropic and Abreha are the biggest threats, but they will have to be at their very best. Bold Tropic was third in 1200m maiden on August 6, while Abreha finished second in a 1400m maiden on August 26. Benzagain, Counterinteligence and Inca Song are definitely clear outsiders.
Best Bet
Race 2 – #3 Vega Prince (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Paul Denton (57.5kg)
$1.60 with Bet365
Race 3 (3.47pm) – $21,525 Vale Harry Lambley Benchmark 76 Handicap (1200m)
Liberty Blue, the horse that finished second on seven occasions in the Red Centre, has his 15th start at Pioneer Park and is aiming for a fourth straight win. The 8YO gelding, who is in the midst of a third campaign in the Alice, has had 54 career starts for just five wins. Winning in SA has proven just as tricky as Liberty Blue finished second eight times. In three starts since returning to the NT in July, he finished second over 1100m (BM54), third over 1000m (0-58) and second over 1200m (BM54) before a win over 1100m (Class 2). That was followed by wins over 1200m (BM66) in August and over 1200m (0-64) two weeks ago. Has yet to win over 1000m. Harpuna is a handy commodity and returns after a last start sixth over 1200m (0-70) in Darwin on August 1. White Kaps is racing well and must be respected over 1000m. Kummerlings and Intercontinental have won two of their past four starts and both are capable of winning.
Best Bet
Race 3 – #5 Liberty Blue (8)
8yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Sonja Wiseman (57.5kg)
$3 with Bet365
Race 4 (4.05pm) – $18,375 Enjoy Retirement Doon Buggy Benchmark 54 Handicap (1400m)
Winter Harbour ended a drought that stretched back to December when he was a last start winner over 1600m (0-64) on September 11. The 6YO gelding was always a chance after a fourth over 1600m (BM76) on August 6 before a second over 1400m (0-70) on August 20. After just three wins from 24 starts in SA, Winter Harbour debuted at Pioneer Park on April 16 and finished 11th over 1100m (0-62). In his next six starts he could only manage a third over 1400m (BM54), but since his birthday he has found that spark. Travanti has done little wrong since April, but the 1400m is a query. Qualis can make a serious impact, but it’s hard to ignore his inconsistency. Chopsticks has the class, but was a last start sixth over 1200m (0-64) two weeks ago after a nine month break. Rockford Files will get the trip and could pull off a surprise. Can the retiring Doon Buggy defy the odds and claim victory in the race named in his honour?
Best Bet
Race 4 – #3 Winter Harbour (1)
6yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Stan Tsaikos (59kg)
$2.45 with Bet365
Race 5 (4.35pm) – $23,100 Ladbrokes Split Multi Handicap (1400m)
Bar Gem was a certainty beaten last start after missing the start quite comprehensively before rattling home to finish third by the narrowest of margins behind Sedona over 1200m (BM76) on September 11. The 7YO gelding has an outstanding record in the Red Centre for seven wins, three seconds and three thirds in 14 starts – the only time he failed was over 1400m in open company on Alice Springs Cup Day on May 1 when he finished fifth. Bar Gem drops 3.5kg for the race and his record over 1400m stands at 9-2-2-2, so he is well and truly in the mix if he gets off to a good start. The highly-credentialed That’s Justified (62.5kg) is spotting his rivals 6kg, but he has a great record over 1400m at Pioneer Park (13-6-4-2) and his last win over the trip was against open company on April 9. Roughly won two straight before finishing second behind Bar Gem on August 20 (1200m) and wasn’t all that far away in a blanket finish when fourth behind Sedona (1200m) two weeks ago. The 10YO mare has never raced over 1400m. Exonerate should edge out Just Hang Up and Debbonaire Boy when it comes to settling on your first four.
Best Bet
Race 5 – #3 Bar Gem (5)
7yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Dan Morgan (55kg)
$2.25 with Bet365
Race 6 (5.05pm) – $18,375 Yeperenye Shopping Centre Benchmark 54 Handicap (1400m)
King Crab had 13 starts for one win in 2021, but he was placed six times. The 7YO gelding had four runs in March and April without firing a shot, but after a four month break he returned to finish second over 1200m (0-64) on August 20 before a last start second over 1600m (0-64) on September 11. King Crab will lump an extra 2kg, but based on his previous effort he will more than likely start as favourite. Sweet As Scandi has had six starts in the Red Centre since arriving from Victoria and in three appearances over 1400m he has finished first (0-58) on April 23, eighth (0-64) on June 19 and third (Class 2) on July 24. He was a last start second over 1200m (BM54) on August 26. Mi Mijo is not out of the equation and was a last start third over 1200m (Class 2) two weeks ago after winning his first race on August 26 in a 1400m maiden. Boy Big and Hard Work Rewards can certainly feature, but the 1400m might just catch them out.
Best Bet
Race 6 – #4 King Crab (3)
7yo Gelding | T: Barry Cooke | J: Jessie Philpot (58.5kg)
$5.50 with Bet365
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