| What | Darwin Races |
| Where | Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 |
| When | Saturday, November 12, 2022 |
| First Race | 2:44pm ACST |
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We head to Darwin this Saturday for a five-race card out of Fannie Bay. HorseBetting’s NT racing analysts has picked out his best bets for the meeting.
Race 1 (2.44pm) – $18,375 Ladbroke It! 0-58 Handicap (1000m)
Hattan Man isn’t getting any younger and despite a disappointing last start seventh over 1100m (BM54) on October 15 – after returning from a six-week spell – should have the class to see off his rivals. The nine-year-old gelding, who was placed twice in three starts during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July-August, headed to WA to race on the grass at Kununurra in August-September for two seconds and a win before heading to the paddock. Of his 11 starts this year, Hattan Man started 2022 with a bang winning over 1100m (0-64) on New Year’s Day. He ran poorly in his next four starts before taking a four month break. He has had six wins and 12 seconds in 45 starts at Fannie Bay, so if Hattan Man is on his game he is a major contender. Minister boasts a win and third in five Darwin starts since arriving from NSW and isn’t out of it. Dream Chance hasn’t won since saluting over 1000m (Class 2) in May, but must be respected after a last start third behind Bat Pad over 1000m (Class 2) on October 15. Expect A Hero finished sixth on his Darwin debut a month ago and Brazenpine, who claims 3kg, didn’t fire a shot in two Fannie Bay starts back in January, but neither should be dismissed so easily.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#2 Hattan Man (4)
9yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Stan Tsaikos (59kg)
$4.50 with Bet365
Race 2 (3.24pm) – $21,525 TAB 0-76 Handicap (1000m)
Expert Witness is among the best sprinters in the NT since arriving from Queensland. The four-year-old gelding finished second in a 860m maiden at Gatton in his first career start in May last year before failing in a 1000m maiden at Toowoomba and a 900m maiden at the Gold Coast. Relocating to the NT, Expert Witness was victorious on debut in an 1100m maiden at Fannie Bay on New Year’s Day before a second over 1100m (3Y0/Maiden) on Australia Day and a third over 1000m (0-64) in February. In July during the Darwin Cup Carnival, he had three starts over 1000m for two wins (0-58 and 0-62) and a third (0-66). A month later he was fifth over 1100m (0-64), but is now aiming for three straight wins after saluting over 1100m (0-64) in September and over 1000m (BM76) in October. Poupee returns after winning his first three races at Fannie Bay over the short course before coming fifth twice at the top level. Debuting in Darwin in July 2020, Papalet was nothing short of sensational. He then hit the wall this year before bouncing back three weeks ago to post an impressive win over 1000m (0-64). Mr Boomjangles and Wild Rover may not have the speed to match their three rivals.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#1 Expert Witness (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Casey Hunter (59kg)
$2.10 with Neds
Race 3 (4.04pm) – $19,425 Off The Track 0-64 Handicap (1300m)
Freddy The Eagle was purchased at the 2022 Magic Millions Darwin Select Horse Sale during the Darwin Cup Carnival and hasn’t missed a beat for the Logan stable. The five-year-old gelding has made it two wins from as many starts with victory over 1300m (BM54) and 1300m (0-64) in October. He was winless in 13 starts in SA, but Freddy The Eagle managed four thirds, four fourths and two fifths. He will carry extra weight on Saturday, but based on his last two starts something would have to go seriously wrong for him to not make another statement. Siakam has only finished out of a place twice in his past eight starts and his last win was achieved over 1200m (BM54) in late August. A third over 1300m (0-64) in October was followed by a narrow second over 1600m (0-64) 11 days ago. Suffice to say that next win beckons. Ice Ice Baby makes his Top End debut and although he hasn’t raced since June brings decent Victorian form to town. On November 1, Signor Fangio caught the eye over 1100m (0-70) when finishing third and Zoumist can only improve after a first up fifth in open company over 1300m. Dream Weaver, Pointo’s Pick, Nokondi and Zou Der Zee are genuine each way hopes.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#4 Freddy The Eagle (6)
5yo Gelding | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Wiseman (58.5kg)
$3.20 with Unibet
Race 4 (4.46pm) – $20,000 Darwin Racing Benchmark 54 Handicap (1200m)
Blueant debuted at Fannie Bay in March after arriving from Queensland and made an immediate impact winning over 1200m (0-70) – not surprising as he boasted a record of three wins, two seconds, four thirds and three fourths from 17 starts in NSW and Queensland from 800-1400m. The six-year-old gelding finished unplaced in his next five starts from April-September, but there were reasons as to why he went off the boil. A third over 1200m (0-58) were early signs that Blueant was getting back to his best before returning to the winner’s circle over 1100m (0-58) in a tight finish on October 22. The Logan stable has a high opinion of the horse, but in a very open race he will have to carry an extra 3kg. Brimarvi Rooboy is as consistent as they come (38-7-5-7-5) and he rates highly after a third and a second behind Freddy The Eagle over 1300m (BM54 and 0-64) in October. Former Victorian galloper Zourisky makes his NT debut and was second over 1600m (BM70) at the Sandown Lakeside course in June. Yowza is a class act and is capable of striking back after two unplaced starts. Zip Lane and Lucky Dog did little wrong when finishing second at their last start and must be considered.
Best Bet
Race 4 – #1 Blueant (7)
6yo Gelding | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Wiseman (62kg)
$4.40 with Bet365
Race 5 (5.24pm) – $18,375 Silks Darwin TROBIS Plate (1100m)
Flying Deputy made his NT debut on Melbourne Cup Day and finished second in a 1200m maiden. The four-year-old gelding only has to repeat that effort and he will most likely claim that elusive first win. After finishing third in his first career start in a 1200m maiden at the Sunshine Coast in September last year, Flying Deputy returned to finish seventh in a 1200m maiden at Doomben (June), third in a 1200m maiden at Ipswich (July) and third in a 1350m maiden at Ipswich (August). It was off to Darwin after a fifth in a 1200m maiden at Murwillumbah and a fourth in a 1185m maiden at Grafton in August. After racing just once in Victoria, Brave Fling ($2.70 fav) finished a narrow second on his Darwin debut in an 1100m maiden on October 1. Debasement should have fitness on his side after two fourths in Darwin maidens (1100m and 1300m) in October. Truly Brazen is the only horse in the race to have a win after saluting in an 1100m maiden on his NT debut on October 1 before a sixth over 1300m (0-58) a month later. Henestrosa has battled since arriving from Victoria, but showed something when finishing third in that 1200m maiden 11 days ago where Flying Deputy came second.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#1 Flying Deputy (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Phillip Crich (59kg)
$3.20 with Bet365
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