| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Friday, December 9, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:24pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Top End racing falls on a Friday this week as we head to Fannie Bay for a six-race meeting. We have gone through card and picked out our best bets for each race on the Darwin program, which kicks off at 2:24pm local time.
Race 1 (2.24pm) – $18,375 Australian Turf Club Benchmark 54 Handicap (1300m)
Freddy The Eagle just pips War Games as the top pick after winning two of his three starts in the Top End. The five-year-old gelding saluted in his first two races over 1300m (BM54 and 0-64) in October before a last start fourth over 1300m (0-64) on November 12. The son of Free Eagle, who managed four thirds from 13 starts in SA before heading to the NT, had excuses last start following an issue in the barriers and deserves another opportunity despite lumping an extra 3kg. War Games won over 1100m (Class 2) at Fannie Bay on July 27 before finishing second and third in three starts at Kununurra. A 10th over 1300m (0-58) and a third over 1200m (BM54) followed back in Darwin in November before producing a tremendous win over 1100m (BM54) on Saturday. He looked the likely winner a long way from home and carries 3kg less than Freddy The Eagle, but has yet to salute over 1300m. Looking For You was a last start fourth and will benefit from a 4kg claim. Former Victorian galloper Zourisky should improve after a first up eighth, while Pointo’s Pick, Northern Factor and Halogem can spring an upset.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#1 Freddy The Eagle (7)
5yo Gelding | T: Tom Logan | J: Ashley Butler (61.5kg)
$2.45 with Bet365
Race 2 (3.05pm) – $18,375 Silks Darwin Benchmark 54 Handicap (1300m)
Meadows Young Buck was far from disgraced in his first three Darwin starts before producing a super last start second behind Noir De Rue over 1600m (BM76) on November 19. The six-year-old gelding went to an early lead and looked set to pull off a terrific win before succumbing to the fast-finishing Noir De Rue in the final 100m. The son of Wanted, who posted four wins in 24 career starts in SA, only has to continue from where he left off three weeks ago and he will take some stopping despite carrying an extra 5kg. Malibu Edition had struck good form and in fact won over 1300m (0-58) on November 1 before a last start seventh over 1200m (Class 2) on November 19 when he was flattened just after exiting the gates. He can bounce back. Mr Boomjangles, who has a 2kg claim, is a track specialist at Fannie Bay and has a record of 24-5-5-4 over 1300m. He won two straight over 1300m (0-58) in August and September before a fifth over 1300m (BM54) on October 1 and a fourth over 1300m (0-58) on November 1. Dream Weaver, Great Boulder, Zap and Truly Brazen could give some cheek.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Meadows Young Buck (5)
6yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Emma Lines (a4)(57kg)
$4.20 with Neds
Race 3 (3.45pm) – $19,425 TRNT Off The Track 0-64 Handicap (1200m)
Yowza, who finished second over 1200m (0-58) before winning a 1400m maiden and saluting over 1100m (0-58) during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival in April, has a 2kg claim and is also a close selection over Crazy Lad. The seven-year-old gelding managed two seconds and four thirds in 18 starts in Victoria and SA before arriving in Darwin. The son of Reward For Effort left it late before storming home to make it back to back seconds at 0-58 level over 1000m on September 10 and over 1200m on October 1. Yowza was then fourth over 1100m on October 22 and fifth over 1300m on November 1 in the same grade before rattling home a month ago to finish just behind Crazy Lad over 1200m (BM54). Crazy Lad, who has a 3kg claim and will lump an extra 1.5kg compared to Yowza, has good form in the Top End and raced well in Queensland in September before returning after a seven-week break to post a first up win in that 1200m (BM54) race on November 12. Raazou is a major threat, but he will have to be at his best as his form has fluctuated. Ice Ice Baby and Skellig Island are unlikely.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#4 Yowza (4)
7yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Tessa Townsend (a2)(55kg)
$3.30 with Bet365
Race 4 (4.24pm) – $20,000 bet365 Lightning Series TROBIS Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Tsugaru debuted in the NT in July and best results were two seconds over 1100m (0-70) at Katherine in August and over 1300m (0-70) in October. The five-year-old gelding, who had two wins from nine starts in Victoria, lined up for his seventh Top End start on November 19 and led throughout before losing the race to Cudjerie following a protest. With a 3kg claim, the son of Kuroshio drops 2.5kg and is in the mix if his effort three weeks ago is any guide. The inside gate will also help Tsugaru, but Flying Deputy will keep him honest. The former Queensland and NSW galloper was a first up second in a 1200m maiden on November 1 before winning over 1100m against maiden runners and 3YOs at a Class 2 level on November 12 where he toppled Henestrosa, a winner at Fannie Bay last weekend. He was also a narrow second behind Hokolesqua over 1000m (0-64) on Saturday. Archie James is a chance after eclipsing Flying Deputy and Henestrosa in that Melbourne Cup Day maiden. Rojo Boom isn’t out of it, Beachhaven makes his Darwin debut, and Turnstar and Zip Lane are sprightly outsiders.
Best Bet
Race 4 – #1 Tsugaru (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Ianish Luximon (a3)(56.5kg)
$3.00 with Palmerbet
Race 5 (4.57pm) – $20,475 Darwin Racing 0-70 Handicap (1100m)
Virtuous Miss is a marginal top pick from First Crusade with both horses producing outstanding last start wins. Virtuous Miss, a five-year-old mare, has a 3kg advantage over First Crusade, who in turn has the advantage after drawing gate three. After bringing decent NSW and Queensland form to town, Virtuous Miss was a first up third behind Cudjerie over 1000m (Class 2) on October 15 before the daughter of Headwater lumped 58.5kg to blast her rivals by six lengths over 1100m (Class 2) on November 1. First Crusade, who also started her career in Queensland and NSW, has had seven starts in Darwin since April and his record of 4-1-1-1 is imposing. After finishing fourth in a red-hot 3YO race over 1200m (BM68) during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July, First Crusade was spelled before returning on November 19 carrying 60.5kg to decimate his rivals by seven and a half lengths over 1200m (0-64). The race itself has attracted an excellent field with the in-form Cudjerie, who has won three of his past four starts, expected to make an impact. Swing With Junior, Global Wonder and Papalet are the next best based on form, but you take a risk ignoring Patria, Vunivalu and Noble War.
Best Bet
Race 5 – #8 Virtuous Miss (8)
5yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Ashley Butler (57kg)
$2.30 with Bet365
Race 6 (5.34pm) – $18,375 Sky Racing 0-58 Handicap (1000m)
One For Anna didn’t set the world on fire after a first up seventh on her Top End debut on November 1 over 1100m (Class 2), but she made those at Fannie Bay on Saturday stand up and take notice when she destroyed her rivals by eight and a half lengths in an 1100m maiden. The four-year-old mare carried 57.0kg with the ease of victory suggesting that she will more than likely prove highly competitive come Friday. The daughter of Super One, who could only manage a second and two thirds in nine starts in NSW, pinged to the lead last weekend when they jumped before extending her lead for the duration of the contest. Henestrosa made up for a gut-wrenching loss on November 12 by leading throughout to take out the other 1100m maiden on Saturday by three and a half lengths. It appears as though he has finally found his feet at Fannie Bay as he has displayed improvement after every start. In what should be another good race the likes of Chief Mondo and Brazenpipe can feature, and although considered as outsiders during the week Air Command, Euphegenia and Dream Chance have ability.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#6 One For Anna (4)
4yo Mare | T: Chris Nash | J: Phillip Crich (57.5kg)
$2.70 with Ladbrokes
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