| What | Darwin Race |
| Where | Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Drive, Fannie Bay, NT, 0820 |
| When | Saturday, July 1, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:08pm ACST |
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A week to go before the start of the 2023 Cup Carnival, the Darwin Turf Club will host a tremendous eight-race meeting this weekend which is commonly referred to as “Day Zero”. With a plethora of big races coming up during eight meetings over the next six weeks there will be quality on display with 70 runners accepting, although there are three emergencies in one race. The feature race is the $30,000 ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) with a host of Darwin Cup (2050m) aspirants lining up, while the Nicole Irwin-trained Masterati will be aiming to go back to back. Sprinters eyeing the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) will also feature over 1000m (0-76) with Chris Nash’s Ideas Man looking to go back to back. Still no rain in the Top End since 0.2mm fell on June 14. Despite a 10 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, mostly sunny conditions are expected with 15-25km/h winds from the NE and an expected top temperature of 31C. The rail will be in the true position and the track will be a good dirt surface.
Darwin Best Bet: Eureka’s Victory
Had an outstanding Alice Springs Cup Carnival in April by sealing three wins and a third. The four-year-old gelding posted one win from 14 starts in Queensland for trainer Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote before arriving at Irwin’s Murray Bridge stable. The son of Epaulette makes his debut on the Fannie Bay dirt, but it’s hard to ignore a win over 1400m (0-70) on April 8, a third over 1600m (0-66) on April 22, a win over 1600m (BM68) against the three and four-year-olds on April 28 and a win over 2000m (BM76) on April 30 (Cup Day) after clearly adapting to the dirt surface in the Red Centre.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#1 Demolish (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Nicole Irwin | J: Adam Nicholls (61kg)
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Next Best Bet: Throw At Da Stumps
Could not have been more impressive after blasting his rivals by 4.8 lengths on his Top End debut over 1100m (0-64) on June 17. Led throughout after jumping from a wide gate and was found to have bled from one nostril after the race. The four-year-old gelding steps up in grade, but the manner of victory two weeks ago was emphatic after kicking clear in the home straight. The son of Rich Enuff, who will carry an extra 1.5kg on Saturday, had two seconds from three starts at Kyneton over 1100m (BM58) and 1479m (BM58) for Cranbourne trainers Ken and Kasey Keys before heading to the NT.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#2 Throw At Da Stumps (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (60.5kg)
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Next Best Bet: American Jazz
Wasn’t all that far away in his past three starts in south-east Queensland for Eagle Farm trainer Annabel Neasham before winding up at the stable of the NT’s premier trainer. The three-year-old gelding was fourth in a 1600m maiden at Eagle Farm on March 15 and then finished second in a 1660m maiden at Doomben on April 12 before a last start third in a 1666m maiden at Ipswich as the $2.60 betting site favourite on May 6. The son of American Pharoah managed a second in a 1600m maiden at the Sunshine Coast last October. If he adapts to the dirt he should have too much class for his rivals.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#3 American Jazz (8)
3yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (58.5kg)
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Best Value At Darwin: Equal Balance
It’s the most open race on the program, but the eight-year-old gelding has drawn a good gate, the trainer has an excellent record when he brings horses to the NT, and the jockey has a wealth of experience. A veteran of 69 starts, which includes six wins and 14 minor placings, the son of Hinchinbrook featured in four races during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival in April for a win over 1400m (0-58) and a second over 1600m (0-58). Was quoted at $14 during the week, but with wins at Rosehill, Kembla Grange, Wagga Wagga, Gawler and Balaklava in the past he’s certainly in the mix.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#7 Equal Balance (3)
8yo Gelding | T: Kym Healy | J: Mark Pegus (58kg)
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Saturday quaddie tips for Darwin races
Darwin quadrella selections
Saturday, July 1, 2023
- 3-4-6-10
- 3-7
- 3-5
- 1-2-3-5-9
Investment: $80 for 100%
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