| What | Chief Minister’s Cup Day |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, July 8, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:11pm AEST |
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Racing returns to Darwin this weekend for Chief Minister’s Cup Day. See HorseBetting’s top picks for all seven races on the card, including our best bets in the 1600m weight-for-age feature.
Race 1 (2.11pm) – $20,000 Sunbuild 0-66 Handicap (1300m)
Miroku debuted in the Top End around this time last year and although he failed to win in three starts from 1200-1600m (0-66) he was among the placegetters. Spent time in South Australia from November-April and was more than competitive in three Adelaide starts. The five-year-old gelding returned to Fannie Bay after an 11 month absence to finish second behind the in-form Noble War over 1200m (0-66) on June 25 and is capable of going that extra step on this occasion. Testino and Norse Mythology finished third and fourth behind Noble War and Miroku, and must be considered. Halgard backs up after a superb win over 1300m (0-76) last weekend, but will lump an extra 6kg. Kent Street has decent first up form after a spell and must be respected. Jennevee debuts after a last start second over 1400m (0-64) at Ballarat on June 9.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#4 Miroku (6)
5yo Gelding | T: Jason Manning | J: Vanessa Arnott (60kg)
$4.40 with Bet365
Race 2 (2.43pm) – $20,000 FRM Refrigeration and Electrical 0-76 Handicap (1200m)
Poupee came crashing back to earth last start when she finished fifth behind the impressive Ideas Man over 1000m (0-76) on June 25. The four-year-old mare had recorded three dominating wins from as many starts from 1000-1100m after arriving in Darwin from Queensland in March, but was never in the hunt two weeks ago after having trailed the field before running on late. Poupee ended up finishing just two lengths adrift of Ideas Man that day to suggest she can strike back. Mini Boom is backing up from last Saturday after dead-heating for first with Harpuna over 1100m (0-70). In 12 starts in the NT, Mini Boom has finished either first or second on 11 occasions – which includes six wins. Mighty Murt was racing really well before a last start failure. It would be an upset if either Mr Cashman or Write Your Name saluted.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#3 Poupee (4)
4yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Adam Nicholls (58.5kg)
$2.70 with Bet365
Race 3 (3.15pm) – $20,000 CJD Equipment Maiden Plate (1200m)
Akoni debuted at Fannie Bay on June 11 and steamed home in the closing stages before going down to Pop Magic by half a length in an 1100m maiden. The three-year-old gelding went down to a fellow maiden, trained by Gary Clarke’s daughter Ella. Based on that performance and considering he gets to run an extra 100m, Akoni is clearly the one to beat in just his second career start. Before arriving in the Top End, he suffered a narrow defeat on debut in a 1200m maiden on the synthetic surface at Ballarat. Victorian visitor Boy Big had two starts in Darwin in June for two thirds in 1200m and 1300m maidens. In his first appearance, Boy Big finished behind Wolfburn – who won the Darwin Guineas last Saturday. In a big field, Quick Return, Umfana and Bear Forever can threaten. Moats Corner, Minister and Shamrock Lass can surprise.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#6 Akoni (1)
3yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (58.5kg)
$1.95 with Bet365
Race 4 (3.54pm) – $20,000 Merit Partners TROBIS 3YO 0-66 Handicap (1100m)
Super Famous was aiming for three straight wins last start and was unlucky to finish third against decent three-year-old opposition behind Wilsons Prom and Flying Start over 1300m (0-66) on June 18. In his first two starts in Darwin, after shining in Alice Springs in April, the former Queensland galloper overcame First Crusade by 0.2 lengths over 1100m (May 21) before rolling Rojo Boom by five lengths over 1200m (May 28). Super Famous meets First Crusade and Rojo Boom once again. First Crusade, who started his career in Queensland and NSW last year, won two straight over 1100m (0-58) after arriving in the north in April before falling to Super Famous. He was a last start third over 1100m (0-62) on June 25 and is more than a decent chance. It may be a bit short for Rojo Boom, while Turnstar and Cassatt definitely have the ability.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#1 Super Famous (3)
3yo Gelding | T: Josh Peacock | J: Adam Nicholls (59kg)
$3.80 with Bet365
Race 5 (4.35pm) – $20,000 AFA Insurance 0-58 Handicap (1000m)
Hattan Man boasts three wins, two seconds and a third from nine career starts when he returns from a spell. The eight-year-old gelding boasts a highly respectable record in the NT after arriving from South Australia in June 2018, which includes six wins and 11 seconds from 41 starts at Fannie Bay. In an open affair, Hattan Man is a narrow selection and returns after a last start ninth over 1100m (0-58) on March 19. Real Valentia has his first start in the Top End after a third (1100m) and second (1200m) at 0-58 level in Alice Springs in April. Brazen Boy is capable of bouncing back after a disappointing Darwin debut on June 18. The Mistral arrives from NSW with a good wrap, but the 1000m could be on the short side. Expert Witness, The Albion and Henestrosa can also feature. Each way or exotic betting could be the best option.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#6 Hattan Man (7)
8yo gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Jade Hampson (57.5kg)
$7.50 with Bet365
Race 6 (5.07pm) – $60,000 Chief Minister’s Cup WFA (1600m)
Our Destrier produced an outstanding Fannie Bay debut on June 4. The five-year-old gelding from Victoria, who arrived with three wins in NSW and South Australia before a ninth at Morphettville over 1600m (0-78) in February, won the Adelaide River Cup (1600m) with ease. Settling at the rear of the field along the back straight, Our Destrier cut loose with 800m to go to win comfortably by three lengths and was seemingly pulling up as he past the winning post. Trident has been a star in the NT over varying distances since Anzac Day last year and quite simply flew home over 1000m at open level in Darwin on June 18 after a last start fourth in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on May 1. Masterati continues to excel in Darwin and you write him off at your peril after a last start win over 1300m, but the 1600m might catch him out. Noir De Rue is not out of the equation. Darwin Cup aspirants Playoffs and Gone Bye step out for the first time.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#5 Our Destrier (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Kym Hann | J: Stan Tsaikos (59kg)
$3.60 with Bet365
Race 7 (5.40pm) – $20,000 Arctic Installations 0-62 Handicap (1600m)
Captain Hedderwick hasn’t featured in Darwin since making it back to back wins last year over 1600m (0-64) on Melbourne Cup Day and 1300m (0-70) in December. The six-year-old gelding was placed once in his next five starts, but in his last four starts since April over 1600m he has posted three seconds and a last start third at 0-64 level on June 18. Compared to his rivals he arguably has the better form, so surely it is Captain Hedderwick’s turn to return to the winner’s circle. Wicked Addictions didn’t do much wrong in Alice Springs a few months ago and is bound to improve after a last start sixth in Darwin over 1200m (0-66) a fortnight ago. Mangione should be fitter after two Darwin starts. Against The Tide, Bull Market and Floreat Pica are backing up after finishing unplaced in the same race over 1600m (0-66) last Saturday.
Best Bet
Race 7 – #3 Captain Hedderwick (7)
6yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (59.5kg)
$6 with Bet365
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