| What | Alice Springs Races |
| Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
| When | Saturday, October 8, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:34pm ACST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing returns to Pioneer Park this weekend with a five-part card hosted by the Alice Springs Turf Club. We have gone through every race in the book and picked out our best bets for each.
Race 1 (2.34pm) – $19,425 Ladbrokes Switch 0-64 Handicap (1200m)
Intercontinental had a three month break during the middle of the year before returning in July and continues to perform with distinction after five starts. The six-year-old gelding has had two wins, a second and a third during that period – his only poor display a seventh over 1200m (BM66) on August 26. He followed that with a last-start second over 1000m (0-70) on September 25 after pushing the in-form Liberty Blue all the way before relenting in the final stages. If he gets to an early lead, Intercontinental will take some stopping, but he has only ever won over 1200m on one occasion in 12 attempts – when he saluted in Canberra in May 2020. After racing in WA, Arrogant Miss returned to Pioneer Park for the first time since June with a last-start third behind Liberty Blue and Intercontinental two weeks ago. Arrogant Miss hasn’t won since Anzac Day on 2020, but will benefit from a 4kg claim. Trystoff is better than average, but he hasn’t raced since April. Hard Work Rewards might be a nine-year-old mare, but she is racing well and was victorious over 1200m (0-64) on August 20. Kummerlings, who didn’t do much wrong at the start of the year, had six months off before a last-start sixth behind Liberty Blue on September 25.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#2 Intercontinental (3)
6yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Jessie Philpot (59kg)
$2.70 with Bet365
Race 2 (3.14pm) – $18,375 Yeperenye Shopping Centre Benchmark 54 Handicap (1200m)
Harbour Express has posted 10 wins in 84 career starts and his last win was as recent as July 3 when he saluted over 1100m (0-58). The nine-year-old gelding has tasted success four times in 20 appearances in the Red Centre and his record over 1200m is 26: 4-1-4. During his first stint in the Alice in 2020, Harbour Express produced nothing in three starts. The following year he had four starts for three wins and a third. He returned from SA for a third time in April and in 13 starts he has been placed three times. Harbour Express finished fourth over 1100m and 1200m (0-58) in September, so he’s not that far away. In his past 13 starts, Rhythmical has only missed out on finishing in the top four on two occasions and his consistency can’t be ignored. His last win was over 1100m (0-58) in September last year and he was a last-start seventh over 1200m (0-58) two Sundays ago. A 3kg claim on Saturday helps. It would be a surprise if Harbour Express and Rhythmical didn’t fight out the finish. Tredici had four starts in June and July – his best effort a last-start third over 1600m (0-64). He has tasted success over 1200m once in 14 starts. The Chaplain has yet to produce his best, while Morphling and Benzagain clearly battled a fortnight ago.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Harbour Express (5)
9yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Paul Denton (59kg)
$2.70 with Unibet
Race 3 (3.51pm) – $21,525 Australian Transit Group Benchmark 76 Handicap (1100m)
Bar Gem has hardly put a foot wrong since returning from Darwin at the end of last year, but he disappointed last start when fifth over 1400m in open company as a $2.40 favourite with online bookmakers. You’d have to think that it was just an aberration and the seven-year-old gelding is capable of bouncing back, but he’ll have to bring his best to the table as there are a handful of rivals who are racing well. Bar Gem raced in Alice Springs and Darwin from March 2019 to April 2020 and recorded four wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts before returning to SA. Returning to Darwin last year, he had seven starts for a win and four seconds. Arriving back in the Alice, Bar Gem has had eight starts for three wins, two seconds and a third, as well as two fifths over 1400m. Having being placed 13 times in 15 starts at Pioneer Park indicates that Bar Gem deserves another chance. Liberty Blue is aiming for his fifth-straight win since August 20 and is a red-hot chance – he will more than likely start as favourite. Sedona has won four of his past eight starts and has only finished unplaced once. Roughly, a thriving 10-year-old mare, has posted three wins and a second in her past five starts. Harpuna is more than capable if he’s on his game.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#2 Bar Gem (6)
7yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Dan Morgan (57.5kg)
$3.80 with Bet365
Race 4 (4.26pm) – $18,375 CAAMA Radio Maiden Plate (1000m)
Vega Prince debuted at Pioneer Park on September 25 in a 1200m maiden as a $1.70 favourite with betting sites before finishing third behind Abreha and Bold Tropic. Prior to arriving in the NT, the four-year-old gelding raced on seven occasions in NSW at Randwick (Kensington), Rosehill, Canterbury, Hawkesbury, Goulburn and Nowra with his best effort a third over 1600m at Nowra on New Year’s Eve. In seven trials, Vega Prince could only manage a second over 780m at Randwick. Without making excuses, Vega Prince perhaps needed the run at Pioneer Park because he is arguably the best horse in the race. Bold Tropic arrived in town after eight Victorian starts and one Darwin start, and before his last-start second his other best effort was a third in a 1200m maiden on August 6. Can he finally get that first win in his fourth Alice start? Drawn To Win started his career in July, finishing fourth in a 1000m maiden at Gunnedah and third in a 900m maiden at Scone. In his first start in Central Australia, Drawn To Win finished fifth behind Captain Bridges over 1100m (0-58) on September 11. Redenzo Lad had three starts in SA and has raced once in Darwin and Tennant Creek, and in nine Alice appearances he has finished third three times.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#4 Vegas Prince (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Sonja Wiseman (59kg)
$2.60 with Neds
Race 5 (5.07pm) – $18,375 Perks 0-58 Handicap (1600m)
Qualis has only raced 14 times and in three NSW starts he finished third in a 1200m Gosford maiden and second in a 1300m Goulburn maiden before winning a 1400m Newcastle maiden. The five-year-old gelding then wound up in the NT. A first-up sixth at Darwin over 1200m (BM68) against three-year-olds in July last year was followed by a third over 1100m (Class 2) in the Alice last October. In his next six starts at either Fannie Bay or Pioneer Park, Qualis could only manage a third over 1600m (Class 2) in the Top End on July 13. Suddenly, Qualis wins over 1200m (BM54) back in the Alice on August 26 and that was followed by a fourth over 1200m (Class 2) on September 11 before a last-start win over 1400m (BM54) on September 25. Qualis was up on the speed that day and was quite impressive. He also appeared to have plenty left in the tank, so fingers crossed he will deliver the goods once again. Winter Harbour and Travanti filled the minor placings behind Qualis two weeks ago and certainly pose a serious threat. Winter Harbour saluted over 1600m (0-64) on September 11 after finishing second over 1400m (0-70) on August 20. Travanti has won three of his past six starts and although he steps up to the 1600m for the first time he has a 3kg claim.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#1 Qualis (2)
5yo Gelding | T: Sheila Arnold | J: Casey Hunter (59kg)
$2.70 with Bet365
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