Darwin racing preview & best bets | Tuesday, November 1

[Wandering Eyes]

What	Darwin Races
Where	Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820
When	Tuesday, November 1, 2022
First Race	1:56pm ACST
Visit Ladbrokes

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While Flemington takes centre stage for Melbourne Cup Day, there will also be racing on at Darwin. HorseBetting’s NT tipster has gone through all seven races on the card and picked out his best bets.

Race 1 (1.56pm) – $21,000 TAB TROBIS 0-58 Handicap (1300m)

Yowza gave the leaders too much start before storming home to finish second over 1000m (0-58) on September 10 and over 1200m (0-58) before a last fourth over 1100m (0-58) on October 22. The seven-year-old gelding posted two wins and a second in Alice Springs in April, but the former SA galloper has yet to get that first Top End win. A wide gate could be a hindrance, but Yowza has ability and is worthy of another chance. Mr Boomjangles won two straight over 1300m (0-58) on August 27 and September 10 before a last start fifth over 1300m (BM54) on October 1. Afternoon Tea has failed once in his past five starts. It may have been an 1100m maiden, but Truly Brazen rocketed home for victory in his Fannie Bay debut on October 1. In what should be a very open race War Games, Shenanigan City, Nokondi, Turnstar, Lucky Dog and Malibu Edition must be respected as they aren’t exactly out of it.

Best Bet

Race 1 – #1 Yowza (9)

7yo Gelding | T: Tayarn Halter | J: Paul Shiers (59.5kg)

$3.80 with Bet365

Race 2 (2.37pm) – $30,000 BTC Constructions Handicap (1300m)

Cielo D’oro had two wins, two seconds and a last start third at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve, so he was always going to star in the NT. The six-year-old gelding won on debut in Darwin over 1000m (BM76) on August 27 before coming fourth two weeks later over 1200m (BM76). He bounced backed to win over 1100m (BM71) on October 1 and was a narrow second over 1000m (BM76) on October 22. Has yet to win beyond 1212m in 25 career starts, but 54kg will enhance his hopes. Write Your Name has had three starts in Darwin for two seconds and returns after winning three straight in Kununurra in August-September. Noir De Rue was a last start fourth in the Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 1, but is capable of making an impact. Zoumist arrives from NSW via a last start seventh at Eagle Farm over 1200m (BM65) on September 7. Military Zone drops 6.5kg, but will have to improve to have any hope.

Best Bet

Race 2 – #3 Cielo D’oro (2)

6yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Robert Faehr (54kg)

$2.05 with Neds

Race 3 (3.19pm) – $21,000 Book Your Christmas Party Maiden Plate (1200m)

Brave Fling made his Darwin debut on October 1 and looked out of contention before rattling home in the final 250m to finish a narrow second in an 1100m maiden. The three-year-old gelding, who started as the $2.70 favourite, jumped well from a favourable gate before losing touch with the leaders approaching the home turn and in the end that cost him victory. If he can settle and keep his mind on the job, then Brave Fling, who finished seventh in his one and only other start in Victoria in a 1200m maiden at Cranbourne on August 4, is a big chance. It took Laylah’s Wish time to settle in the NT, but she has been placed in her past two Fannie Bay starts over 1100m and 1300m. Flying Deputy arrives in town after posting two thirds, a fourth and a fifth in his past four runs at Ipswich, Murwillumbah and Grafton in July-August from 1185m-1350m. Exgames, Archie James and Henestrosa are the best of the rest.

Best Bet

Race 3 – #7 Brave Fling (7)

3yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (56.5kg)

$3 with Bet365

Race 4 (3.59pm) – $21,000 bet365 Class 2 Handicap (1100m)

Champs D’or debuted in Darwin in May and in three starts finished sixth each time. Since then the five-year-old mare has only missed a place twice in her past 10 starts. The only time she has saluted in the Top End was on August 13 over 1100m (0-58) at Katherine. It appeared as though Champs D’Or may have hit the wall after coming eighth over 1200m (0-58) at Fannie Bay on October 1, but she bounced back to finish second over 1000m (Class 2) on October 15 after blowing the start and was a last start third over 1100m (0-58) on October 22. Virtuous Miss was a handy first up third behind Champs D’or in that race on October 15. Hokolesqua makes his NT debut and brings decent Victorian form to town. Air Command could be one to watch as he has only finished out of place once in his past five starts and benefits from a 3kg claim. Wild Rover, Wilsons Prom and Light And Dark could spring an upset.

Best Bet

Race 4 – #6 Champs D’or (4)

5yo Mare | T: Chris Nash | J: Stan Tsaikos (56kg)

$6.50 with Ladbrokes

Race 5 (4.32pm) – $21,000 Australian Turf Club Class 2 Handicap (1100m)

Cudjerie had her first career start in Darwin in March and could only finish ninth in a 1000m maiden. That was followed by a fourth over 1100m (BM54) in May, but unfortunately hope turned to despair when she finished eighth in an 1100m maiden in June and ninth over 1000m (Class 2) in August. Out of no where Cudjerie ($51) sparked to life when she shared the lead early over 1000m (0-58) before kicking away in the home straight to overcome the late finishers to win by half a length. Backing up on October 15 at $15, the mare once again found the front over 1000m (Class 2) and ended up winning nonchalantly by five lengths. To The Point has won two from two in Darwin after saluting over 1100m (Maiden and BM54) in October and is a big threat. Pointo’s Pick, Umfana, Early Crow, a first up fourth behind Cudjerie on October 15, and NSW arrival One For Anna, who has a 3kg claim, are in the mix.

Best Bet

Race 5 – #2 Cudjerie (3)

4yo Mare | T: Chris Pollard | J: Stan Tsaikos (58.5kg)

$2.50 with Bet365

Race 6 (5.07pm) – $21,000 Ladbrokes 0-70 Handicap (1100m)

Bat Pad continues to leave her mark in the Top End and is aiming for a third straight win. After finally saluting over 1200m (0-58) in emphatic style by two and a half lengths on October 1, the five-year-old mare took a while to wind up before flashing home to win over 1000m (Class 2) on October 15. It was basically a matter of time before Bat Pad clicked into gear after two seconds and two thirds after debuting in the tropics in May, but a step up in class come Tuesday is a big test despite a drop in weight. Belmont Day is above average and can flex a bit of muscle, but he hasn’t saluted since August 2021 after winning the Montgomerie Lightning (1000m) on Darwin Cup Day. Overruled returns after a last start win in August over 1100m (0-64). Global Wonder hadn’t missed a beat in four starts since June before a last start sixth over 1200m (0-70) on October 15. If they bring their best to the table Charretera, Raazou, Signor Fangio, Looking For You and Swing With Junior won’t be far away.

Best Bet

Race 6 – #6 Bat Pad (2)

5yo Mare | T: Mark Nyhan | J: Paul Shiers (57kg)

$2.70 with PlayUp

Race 7 (5.40pm) – $21,000 Silks Darwin 0-64 Handicap (1600m)

Siakam has had 15 starts in Darwin for three wins, four seconds and four thirds, and has only raced over 1600m six times in NSW and the NT. The five-year-old gelding has raced over 1200m, 1300m, 1600m and 2050m, but he seems to do his best work over the mile with a win, a second, a third and a fourth. He heads into the race after a first up third following a spell over 1300m (0-64) on October 15. Prince Ruban has competed over 1600m in three of his past four starts for two wins (0-58) and a last start third (0-70) on October 22. Zap has been a marvel in the NT since arriving in 2018 and it seemed as though he was just going through the motions after returning to Darwin from Alice Springs before a last start third behind Prince Ruban over 1600m (0-58) on October 15. Precautionary was second in that race and must be considered. Zou Der Zee and Meadows Young Buck are the knockout hopes.

Best Bet

Race 7 – #1 Siakam (3)

5yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60kg)

$2.15 with Bet365

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