With so many three-year-olds in good form, it is shaping up as a highly competitive Darwin Guineas (1600m) at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
The $75,000 feature launches the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival, but with a split match separating eight horses the Guineas is up for grabs.
Kym Healy’s He’s Maverick was the +340 favourite with top horse racing betting sites on Wednesday night, but leading Top End jockey Sonja Logan, who will partner the SA gelding, agrees that it’s a “lottery”.
“It’s a terrific field, there are a few horses there that are going to be contenders, that’s for sure,” Logan said.
“Gary Clarke’s new horse Masatora from the Ciaron Maher stable, it’s half a chance.
“It’s gone over a bit further, it might be a Derby horse more than a Guineas horse.
“You’ve got Rhesus, formerly with James Cummings – he ran a real good race two weeks ago for Phil Cole when a close second over the mile (0-58) going up against Faberge Tzar, who won the race for Victorian trainer Andrew Perdon.
“I think they’re two very handy horses, but there’s also Neil Dyer’s Unquestionably.
“I won on He’s Maverick over 1300m against the three-year-olds two weeks ago from Tayarn Halter’s Super Defense, but Unquestionably finished off strongly for third.
“Unquestionably has drawn the outside, but he’s a backmarker, so he might still get a nice run before winding up at the finish.”
Paul Gardner’s Better Not Fuss, who rolled Global Wonder over 1600m (0-64) two weeks ago, won the NT Guineas (1600m) in Alice Springs in April starting at $91.
Kevin Lamprecht’s Beyond Ready, second in the NT Guineas before finishing second behind Starton in his Fannie Bay debut over 1200m against the three-year-olds a month ago, has not missed a place in five NT starts and won twice in the Red Centre.
Kerry Petrick’s Starton arrived from Victoria and saluted on June 8 by 4.5 lengths and although finishing seventh behind He’s Maverick a fortnight ago, he did battle for the early lead after jumping from gate 11.
Super Defense did little wrong in the Top End first up and Chloe Baxter’s Tilussion – the only filly in the field who hopes to follow in the footsteps of filly Tubthumper after her Guineas success last year – was a close fourth in that same race.
Rhesus at +380 (Emma Lines), Faberge Tzar at +400 (Jason Maskiell), Starton at +700 (Paul Denton) and Masatora at +900 (Jarrod Todd) also headed the market on Wednesday night.
He’s Maverick, third in the NT Guineas before toppling the three and four-year-olds over 1600m during the Alice Carnival, was mighty impressive two weeks ago when he stormed home from the back.
“He’s absolutely flying, Kym’s got him going really well,” Logan said.
“I galloped him on Wednesday morning, I’m really happy with him.
“He has pulled up quite well from his race the other day and I definitely think the mile is going to suit him.
“He’s just very honest, he’s sound, he’s clean-winded – he’s just a really nice horse all-round and I think he’s a very good contender in the Guineas.”
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