| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, December 17, 2022 |
| First Race | 3:20pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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We are back in the tropical north this Saturday for a slate of five races at the Darwin Turf Club. HorseBetting’s NT racing analyst has gone through the card and picked out his best bets for the meeting, which kicks off at 3:20pm local time.
Race 1 (3.20pm) – $18,375 Sky Racing 0-58 Handicap (1300m)
Flying Deputy had three thirds from six career starts in Queensland before arriving in the NT. The four-year-old gelding was a first up second in a 1200m maiden at Fannie Bay on November 1 before tasting victory after producing a big finish to catch runaway leader Henestrosa over 1100m for the maiden performers and three-year-olds at a Class 2 level on November 12. The son of Flying Artie stepped up in class and was far from disgraced when second behind Hokolesqua over 1000m (0-64). Getting the trip will be no problem for Flying Deputy after finishing third in a 1350m maiden at Ipswich in August, but he starts from a wide barrier after jumping from gate one in his three Darwin starts. Yowza bounced back to form with a second over 1200m (BM54) on November 12, so it would be best to ignore his effort last Friday when he had no impact at all after blowing the start. Mr Boomjangles has a good record over 1300m, but he has disappointed in his past three starts after winning two straight in August and September. Pointo’s Pick finished fourth over 1300m (BM54) last Friday and could give some cheek with less weight. Against The Tide and Nokondi have ability, but will have to be at their best to win.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#2 Flying Deputy (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Jarrod Todd (59kg)
$2.15 with Bet365
Race 2 (3.56pm) – $20,000 TAB Lightning Series 0-64 Handicap (1300m)
Kirakat has caught the eye since arriving in the Top End from Victoria. A certainty beaten on debut after travelling wide throughout on October 22 before falling by a nose to Blueant over 1100m (0-58), the four-year-old mare delivered the goods on November 19 when she blitzed her rivals by five lengths over 1100m (0-58). The daughter of Showcasing has yet to win beyond 1100m with her only other win achieved on the synthetic surface at Ballarat in a two-year-old maiden in June last year. In 13 career starts, Kirakat has raced beyond 1100m nine times with her best efforts occurring on the Ballarat synthetic after finishing second narrowly over 1400m (0-58) in May and June. After a lean period, Looking For You (55.5kg) led from start to finish last Friday to overcome his rivals by five lengths over 1300m (BM54). With a 4kg claim, Looking For You (54kg) can certainly compete with Kirakat (57kg) if his form stands up. Fragore has a terrific record at Fannie Bay and must be respected despite a last start seventh over 1300m (0-70) on December 3. Patria can never be discounted, but he didn’t offer too much when sixth over 1100m (0-70) last Friday. Noble War could provide the knockout punch.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#6 Kirakat (5)
4yo Mare | T: Jason Manning | J: Vanessa Arnott (57kg)
$2.05 with Unibet
Race 3 (4.27pm) – $21,525 Sitzler Benchmark 76 Handicap (1200m)
Bat Pad is among the best horses to have relocated to Darwin this year and bounced back with a fast-finishing win over 1100m (BM76) on December 3 after a fifth over 1200m (BM70) on November 19. Arriving from NSW via Queensland and Victoria, the five-year-old mare debuted on May 28 and in her first four starts she managed two seconds and two thirds before posting three straight wins in October and November over 1000m, 1100m and 1200m. In her 10 starts before heading north, the daughter of Brazen Beau was placed once and that occurred at Newcastle with victory in a 900m maiden in October 2020. A 3kg claim is an added bonus. Mr Cashman (58kg), who has won three of his past six starts, was fifth over 1000m (BM76) in October and saluted over 1200m in open company in November before a last start second behind Bat Pad two weeks ago. Mr Cashman spotted Bat Pad 3kg last time and this time there’s a 4.5kg difference. Hokolesqua was a last start winner over 1000m (0-64) on December 3 after coming second in his Darwin debut on Melbourne Cup Day over 1100m (Class 2). Returning from a spell, Jet Jackson did impress over 1200m (BM70) on November 19.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#3 Bat Pad (3)
5yo Mare | T: Mark Nyhan | J: Ianish Luximon (a3)(56.5kg)
$3.60 with Neds
Race 4 (5.06pm) – $18,375 Australian Turf Club TROBIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
Fischer is a very narrow selection. The four-year-old gelding has yet to win a race since having his first career start at Fannie Bay on May 7 where he finished fourth in an 1100m maiden. In six starts, the son of Zoustar has managed three seconds – which were achieved in a 1200m maiden on June 4, over 1600m (0-58) on June 18 and in a 1300m maiden on July 27. It must be said that he finished fourth behind handy pair Super Famous and First Crusade over 1100m (BM56) at three-year-old level on May 21. In his only other start in the Top End, Fischer finished ninth in the Darwin Guineas (1600m). Brave Fling has had three starts in Darwin in 1100m maidens for a second in October, a third in November and a third two weeks ago, so he is clearly in the mix. Flying Barty had two thirds at Morphettville late last year over 1000m and 1050m before a third over 1200m at Moe in September and was a first up third in an 1100m maiden at Fannie Bay on December 3. Cisalpine was placed three times in seven starts in Victoria before a debut second in a 1300m maiden in Darwin on October 22 and was a last start fourth in an 1100m maiden a fortnight ago. A 3kg claim certainly helps the hopes of Laylah’s Wish.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#2 Fischer (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Casey Hunter (59kg)
$3.20 with PlayUp
Race 5 (5.38pm) – $18,375 Silks Darwin Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100m)
All Stardom gets the nod in what should be another competitive race. The fact that the five-year-old gelding drops in grade after five Darwin races at either a 0-64 or 0-70 level perhaps gives the former Victorian galloper a slight edge. The son of All Too Hard had his first Top End start on September 10 finishing fourth over 1100m (0-64) before getting to within two lengths of the leaders when fourth over 1300m (0-64) on October 1. A sixth over 1300m (0-64) on October 15 was followed by a third over 1000m (0-64) before a last start fourth over 1000m (0-64) two weeks ago. In 15 Victorian starts, All Stardom managed three wins (Caulfield, Kilmore and Stony Creek), three seconds (Sandown, Mornington and Pakenham) and a third (Sale). Exceedingly Magic makes his NT debut and brings acceptable form to town from Victoria. Courageous Hearts had been racing well in South Australia and finished fourth in his first Fannie Bay start over 1100m (BM54) two weeks ago. Sweet Cheval returns from a spell after coming third over 1200m (0-58) on July 23 before a last start second over 1600m (0-58) on August 1. Defence Attorney, Familja, Real Reason and Hard To Excel aren’t exactly making up the numbers.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#2 All Stardom (2)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Pollard | J: Stan Tsaikos (61kg)
$4.20 with Ladbrokes
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