It might well be the off-season in the Red Centre, but the Alice Springs Turf Club will host a six race meeting at Pioneer Park on Sunday and on Friday there was a total of 43 acceptances.
Race 1 – 0-58 (1200m)
Greg Connor’s Bold Tropic was the early +300 favourite, but stablemate Toffiato, Lisa Whittle’s pair Miss Miduki and The Chaplain, Kevin Lamprecht’s Sweet As Scandi are in the mix.
Bold Tropic hasn’t won a race since October last year, but has been placed in four of his past six starts and was a last start third over 1200m (Class 2) on August 25.
Toffiato won two straight before coming fifth over 1200m (0-64) a fortnight ago and is worthy of another chance, while Sweet As Scandi returns after coming second over 1300m (0-58) at her previous start in Darwin on August 5.
Miss Miduki has finished first, seventh, second and fifth in Alice Springs, and although stablemate The Chaplain hasn’t raced since last December he has been placed four times in 10 Red Centre starts.
Will Savage’s Talent Quest and former SA runner Red Wraith from Paul Gardner’s stable aren’t out of it.
Race 2 – BM76 (1200m)
Ray Viney’s Kickatorp has impressed since arriving from NSW and to be quoted as the early +110 is fair, but Terry Gillett’s duo Bench Press and Brat will keep him honest.
Kickatorp has had four starts for a win over 1100m (Class 2) and wasn’t disgraced when second behind I’m A Legend over 1100m (0-66), Supreme Attraction over 1100m (BM76) and Lastar over 1200m (BM66).
Brat had won three of his past four starts before a last start third behind Lastar and Kickatorp on August 25, while Bench Press – a genuine star when he arrived in the Red Centre – is winless in his past eight starts.
It’s unlikely, but former Queensland galloper Mission State from the Dan Morgan yard and James Carroll’s Kenneth could spring a surprise.
Race 3 – 0-58 (1200m)
Connor’s Radio Room (+220) and Chopsticks, Gardner’s Perkova, Lamprecht’s Travanti, Viney’s Kummerlings and Leanne Gillett’s Jen’s Reward must be considered.
Radio Room ran well on August 12 despite finishing four lengths adrift of Miss McGregor over 1400m (0-64), so it was no surprise to see him trail Super Famous by two lengths in second place over 1200m (0-64) on August 25.
Perkova arrived from NSW and was second behind Little Town Blues over 1000m (0-62) in Darwin on August 5 before coming third behind Boy Big over 1100m (0-58) in Alice Springs 20 days later.
Chopsticks, an 11-year-old gelding, hasn’t been far away of late, Kummerlings and Travanti can deliver on their day, and Jen’s Reward won a 1200m maiden before a last start eighth over 1200m (Class 2) in August.
Race 4 – 0-64 (1100m)
Lastar had four starts for SA trainer Nicole Irwin in Alice Springs in April for a win and a third before producing two poor runs in Darwin.
Back in the Red Centre, Lastar has fired under Whittle and after a narrow second over 1400m (Class 2) posted two wins in August over 1200m (BM54) before overcoming Kickatorp and Brat to win the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (BM66) over 1200m.
Lastar ($2.80 fav) will have to be on his toes as Russell Bell’s Garrucha races well at Pioneer Park and returns after back to back wins at Kununurra these past two weeks.
Connor’s Trystoff hasn’t won a race since August 2020, but in his past 18 starts he has finished in the top four 14 times.
Carroll Hunter’s Norse Mythology has only missed the top four once in his past five starts, while former Victorian gelding Strike Eagle will debut for Viney.
Connor’s Intercontinental and Lamprecht’s Rhythmical have had their fair share of wins in the Alice.
Race 5 – Maiden (1400m)
It appears to be a two-horse race between Connor’s Danny Whizzbang (+220) and Whittle’s Vega Prince.
A third in an 1100m maiden in April was followed by a second in an 1100m maiden in July before Danny Whizzbang suffered a narrow loss at the hands of Jen’s Reward in a 1200m maiden in August.
Vega Prince has had five seconds, two thirds and three fourths in 11 starts in Alice Springs.
Dartboard did finish second over 1600m (0-64) against the three-year-olds in Darwin in July, while Quick Return has only missed to top four twice in his past seven starts.
Race 6 – 0-64 (1600m)
Terry Gillett’s Valley Prince (+120) won over 1400m (0-70) back in March, but in his next nine starts he has finished in the top four on seven occasions.
A last start eighth behind Desert Lass over 1400m (BM66) on August 25 is of concern, which leaves the door ajar for Viney’s Quizzle, Savage’s Sienna’s Choice, and Gardner’s Miss McGregor and Boogie Nights.
Quizzle was a last start sixth in late August in the race that featured Valley Prince which suggests he could be tiring after three wins, three seconds and two thirds in 10 starts since January despite having May and June off.
Miss McGregor was a model of consistency from May to July before rolling Radio Room and Sienna’s Choice over 1400m (0-64) on August 12, but was a last start seventh behind Desert Lass in late August.
The form of Sienna’s Choice and Boogie Nights can fluctuate, so you just never know.
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