| What | Alice Springs Races |
| Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Saturday, October 29, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:12pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing returns to Alice Springs this Saturday for a six-part card out of Pioneer Park. HorseBetting’s NT racing expert has combed through the program and picked out his best bets for every race in the Red Centre this weekend.
Race 1 (2.12pm) – $18,375 Alice’s Biggest Christmas Party 2nd December 0-58 Handicap (1200m)
Harbour Express is aiming for three straight wins and is more than capable despite winning by less than a length over 1200m on October 8 (BM54) and October 16 (0-58). The nine-year-old gelding once again meets Lisa and Truckload Of Hoffa, who filled the minor placings two weeks ago. Lisa hasn’t won since December last year, but two last start seconds suggests that she isn’t far away. Truckload Of Hoffa hasn’t won since March, but finished strongly on October 16 and must be respected. SA pair Obelos and Tolkien make their Top End debuts and headed the early market. Obelos saluted over 1200m (BM54) at Gawler on September 21 before a last start ninth over 1300m (BM64) at Morphettville Parks on October 1. After failing in his first two starts Tolkien was a last start winner at Strathalbyn in a 1200m maiden in April, but might be short on fitness. Maid In Milan, yet another SA arrival, had been racing well before finishing 11th over 1600m (BM60) at Morphettville on October 22. Saiken returned from a spell and finished fourth over 1100m (Class 2) on October 16.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#3 Harbour Express (4)
9yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Paul Denton (58kg)
$4.80 with Ladbrokes
Race 2 (2.52pm) – $20,475 Colemans Printing 0-70 Handicap (1200m)
Bench Press hasn’t raced since April, but he is genuine star in the Red Centre and gets the nod. The five-year-old gelding had just three starts in Victoria last year finishing 10th in a 1200m maiden at Bairnsdale before a fourth and a third in two 1600m maidens at Pakenham. Bench Press saluted in a 1000m maiden on debut at Pioneer Park in September last year and in six other starts he has managed three firsts and three seconds against decent opposition. He was a last start second behind NT Guineas winner Flying Start over 1600m (BM68) against 3YOs and 4YOs on April 29. Harpuna, who won over 1100m (0-70) in Darwin on July 2, is definitely on the rise after finishing second over 1100m (BM76) in the Alice on October 8. Cyclonite had gone six races without a win and seemed to have plenty in the tank en route to an impressive win over 1100m (0-70) on October 16. Fantasy Eagle needs to lift despite a last start second over 1600m (BM68). Archery Butts makes his NT debut after finishing second over 1200m (BM56) at Gawler on October 21. At his best, Trystoff can spring a surprise.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#2 Bench Press (4)
5yo Gelding | T: Leanne Gillett | J: Stan Tsaikos (59.5kg)
$5 with Bet365
Race 3 (3.25pm) – $18,375 CKS Electrical Maiden Plate (1100m)
Vega Prince has had three starts in Alice Springs since arriving from NSW without getting the cash, but he has the opportunity to break that duck in his 11th start. The four-year-old gelding debuted at Pioneer Park as a $1.70 favourite on September 25 and could only manage a third behind Abreha in a 1200m maiden. Vega Prince faded to finish fourth behind Bold Tropic in a 1000m maiden on October 8 before a last second behind Mackinaw, who won by five lengths, over 1100m (BM54) on October 16. If you’ve got two fourths under your belt in Sydney then surely it’s time for Vega Prince to deliver the goods. Realistically, Redenzo Lad is perhaps the only threat. Since arriving in the Alice in April last year, Redenzo Lad has had 10 starts and has finished third on four occasion – that includes that 1000m maiden three weeks ago. He did finish second in a 1000m maiden at Tennant Creek in May. Kikuyu has yet to produce good Victorian form in the NT, Danny Whizzbang is a first starter and Shortball hasn’t raced since June, while SA arrival Final Jedi at least has fitness on her side.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#5 Vega Prince (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Paul Denton (59kg)
$3 with Unibet
Race 4 (4.06pm) – $23,100 Ladbrokes Punter Assist Handicap (1100m)
Liberty Blue is making every post a winner since returning to Alice Springs for a third campaign. The eight-year-old gelding, who once boasted a record of seven seconds from 11 starts in the Red Centre, has won his past five starts at Pioneer Park stretching back to August 20 and is proving unstoppable. In 57 career starts, Liberty Blue has only saluted on two other occasions in Port Augusta – he has finished second on 15 occasions and third seven times. Pushing forward, Liberty Blue is basically running his rivals off their legs. His last win was over 1100m (BM76) on October 8. Roughly is the main danger after winning four of her past seven starts over varying distances including a last start win over 1600m (BM65) at the first attempt on October 16. The 10-year-old mare finished second over 1100m (Open) on August 20 and third over 1100m (BM76) on October 8. Bar Gem only has to jump well to make an impact. Prairie Fire arrives from Queensland with respectable form. Supreme Attraction won three from three in Alice Springs last year, but his form of late can only be rated as moderate.
Best Bet
Race 4 – #4 Liberty Blue (3)
8yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Sonja Wiseman (55kg)
$2.60 with Bet365
Race 5 (4.40pm) – $18,375 Alice Springs Toyota Benchmark 54 Handicap (1000m)
Mackinaw could not have been more convincing after braining his rivals by five lengths over 1100m (BM54) on October 16 to post his first win at Pioneer Park at the third attempt. The five-year-old grey gelding was as rusty as the front gate when he first arrived in the NT finishing eight over 1100m (Class 2) on August 20 and seventh over 1100m (0-58) on September 11. Getting used to the Alice Springs dirt is a legitimate excuse for any newcomer, but he arrived in town after saluting in a 1000m maiden at Tamworth. Mackinaw, who was placed on three other occasions in NSW in 13 starts, only has to pick up from where he left off two weeks ago and he’ll prove hard to beat, especially with a 3kg claim. Captain Bridges brought good SA form to town and was a first up winner over 1100m (0-58) on September 11 before a last start sixth over 1200m (0-58) on September 25. Suffice to say he’ll bounce back. Acres Midnight returned from a spell two weeks ago to finish third behind Mackinaw. New face Archie’s Star has been racing well in SA and City Jet is capable of anything.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#2 Mackinaw (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Will Savage | J: Ianish Luximon (58kg a)
$2.20 with Neds
Race 6 (5.10pm) – $19,425 Imparja 0-64 Handicap (1400m)
Arrogant Miss is a narrow selection in the most open race of the day. The six-year-old mare is every chance after rattling home from a fair way back in the home straight to finish second over 1200m (0-64) on October 8. Arrogant Miss has won once over 1400m in Alice Springs in the past, but that was in November 2019. However, it’s hard to ignore her late burst three weeks ago and a 4kg claim is a bonus. Winter Harbour is as consistent as they come and in his past four starts since August 20 he has managed a win and two seconds, as well as a last start third over 1600m (0-58). He drops 3.5kg. Sweet As Scandi returns after a last start win over 1400m (BM54) when she pipped Mi Mijo by a whisker on September 25 and with a 3kg claim cannot be ignored. Mi Mijo backed up from that near miss to finish fifth over 1200m (0-58) two weeks ago, but he too drops 3kg. The Chaplain caught the eye when he produced a big finish over 1200m (0-58) two weeks ago and has 1400m form. Hard Work Rewards, a 9YO mare, was a last third over 1600m (BM68) behind Roughly on October 16.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#1 Arrogant Miss (5)
6yo Mare | T: Russell Bell | J: Lek Maloney (58kg a)
$4.20 with Bet365
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