| What | Darwin Cup Carnival – Day 1 |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, July 8, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:13pm ACST |
|
Visit Ladbrokes |
|
The time has arrived with the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival kicking off this Saturday. The first of eight meetings has attracted 98 acceptors with the Darwin Turf Club hosting a bumper 10-race card headlined by the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) for the three-year-olds.
It will be sunny on Saturday – it hasn’t rained in Darwin since June 14 (0.2mm). Winds from the south-east will reach 20-30km/h, with a top temperature of 33C forecasted. The rail will be in the true position and the track will be a good dirt surface.
DARWIN GUINEAS TIPS: CENTURY FOX
the guy as been the star three-year-old in the NT since arriving from NSW and is clearly the one to beat in the feature race. The fact that he will lump the same weight as the nine other geldings and only spots the two other fillies 2kg is significant as he was an impressive winner of the NT Guineas (1600m) on April 17 before coming fifth in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on April 30. The son of Eurozone looked great when sealing victory by two lengths over fellow three-year-olds in his Darwin debut over 1300m (BM66) two weeks ago. Starting from barrier five also enhances his hopes.
Darwin Guineas
Race 9 – 
#2 Century Fox (5)
3yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Paul Shiers (58kg)
$2.35 with Bet365
BEST BET: EQUAL BALANCE
Equal Balance missed the start last Saturday in his Darwin debut and was well out of contention before clicking into gear at the halfway mark of the 1200m BM66. He was easily seven lengths adrift of the runaway leader Hard To Excel before making ground along the rails and in the end was the only threat before going down by half a length. The eight-year-old gelding carries similar weight this weekend, although the wide barrier could be a hurdle. The son of Hinchinbrook had four starts in Alice Springs in April with a win (1400m) and a second (1600m) at 0-58 level.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#2 Equal Balance (11)
8yo Gelding | T: Kym Healy | J: Mark Pegus (58.5kg)
Bet with Neds
NEXT BEST: BLUFFED
Although yet to taste victory in 18 starts, Bluffed made a huge impression a fortnight ago against fellow three-year-olds to finish fifth behind Century Fox in a BM66 over 1300m. He was a mile behind and travelled wide down the side before producing a whirlwind finish to suggest that the 1600m won’t be a burden. In 11 Darwin starts since arriving from Queensland via Victoria, the son of More Than Ready has recorded three seconds, two thirds and two fourths – including a second behind Daniher in a BM64 over 1200m on June 10. The inside gate certainly helps.
Next Best
Race 10 – 
#6 Bluffed (1)
3yo Gelding | T: Paul Stennett | J: Sonja Wiseman (55kg)
Bet with Bet365
BEST VALUE: SOUL SPIRIT
This daughter of Domesday has had five starts in Darwin for two wins and three seconds. The four-year-old mare kicked off life in the NT in style with wins in a 1000m Class 2 in March and a 1200m 0-64 on ANZAC Day before finishing as the bridesmaid over 1300m (0-70) behind Swing With Junior on May 6, 1000m (0-70) behind Rising Sphere on June 3, and 1200m in open company behind Star Magnum on June 17. A wide barrier doesn’t help, but Soul Spirit has the form on the board and should once again prove highly competitive.
Best Value
Race 8 – 
#10 Soul Spirit (11)
4yo Mare | T: Phil Cole | J: Vanessa Arnott (57.5kg)
Bet with Ladbrokes
Saturday quaddie tips for Darwin races
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, July 8, 2023
- 1-2
- 5-9-10-11
- 2-7-8-11
- 2-6
Investment: $180 for 100%
More Saturday racing tips
