The first Darwin meeting of 2026 takes place at Fannie Bay today with a decent five-race card, highlighted by the first heat of the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series Handicap (1100m), the first of eight heats in the series which runs through until mid-March. The Benchmark 76 event has attracted a quality field of sprinters, including last-start winners Forms Of Fear and Patriotic King, as well as the Palmerston Sprint runner-up from last year, Bon’s Pride.

However, I am keen on Zourata in this short-course event, having his first start this campaign and from the stable of Terry Gillett. The 6yo son of Zoustar has excelled on the sand and oil-based surfaces of the Territory, having won twice in Darwin and twice in the Red Centre among his eight career victories. He is fresh-up here, having not started since a gallant second in the Montgomerie Lightning behind Wild Beau on Darwin Cup Day, but he has been in work for some time and trialled in fine style at Fannie Bay prior to Christmas.

While Gillett is now the new official trainer, he already has a good knowledge of Zourata, having had the horse in his care in both Alice Springs and Darwin previously. With Gillett’s daughter Dakota, the horse’s regular rider, on the sidelines with a hairline fracture to a heel, regular Territory visitor Hannah Le Blanc will take the mount on the speedster, who has a decent fresh record of a win and three placings from six first-up attempts. And from an inside draw of two, he should be either in front or sharing the lead from the outset, and will take plenty of catching over this distance.

Forms Of Fear, who has always shown speed and ability, resumed from a four-month spell with a dominant performance to score over 1200m on 5 December. He led clearly that day from barrier four, and although he has drawn a couple of spots wider this time, he should be right on the pace, such is his speed from the gates. Wayne Davis takes the mount this time with regular rider Raymond Vigar suspended, but the senior rider is a more than capable replacement. Like Zourata, Forms Of Fear is a 6yo and the lightly-raced son of Written Tycoon looks to be fully furnished now and should be a force to be reckoned with going forward.

Patriotic King, who has won three of his last four starts and his last two, must always be considered in a race of this nature. While up in grade from what he has been beating lately, the 7yo by Starspangledbanner is a nine-race winner and has won four times at this trip. He will need to do some work early from the outside gate, but if he can get across even outside the leader, he will be there when the pressure is on in the final 100m.

Bon’s Pride is undoubtedly the class act of the race, the eight-race winner of more than $200,000 in stakes a revelation during his last campaign. He won on Day 4 of the Darwin Cup Carnival last year before producing a career-best effort when narrowly beaten by three-time winner Early Crow in the Palmerston Sprint. He has not started since, although he has been in work for some time with trainer Jason Manning, who has done such a good job with him since he was purchased from the 2023 Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale held in Darwin. A bold showing would certainly come as no surprise.

Crown Waters, better known over more ground, went a bottler first-up when second to Forms Of Fear over 1200m and the drop back in trip you would expect would be an impediment to her chances. That said, she looks to have come back in fine form for trainer Tommy Logan and look to her to be getting home strongly late.

La Boqueria has been racing well in lower grade, with a win three starts back followed by two second placings at her last two starts. This is a good deal harder, but she has the services of the one and only Jason “Hurricane” Lyon to aid her chances. Atlantic Ocean completes the seven-strong line-up and Paul Shiers’ charge must also be considered on his best form. Aaron Sweeney will have the steer.

On the undercard, Jumping Power Two looks to make it five from five in Darwin in the Become A DTC Member Handicap (1200m), while Straya Pride, who has been knocking on the door lately with three placed efforts at his last three starts, gets another decent opportunity to break through in the TAB Handicap (1300m). Newcomer Fury will be an interesting runner for the Clarke stable in the ROANT TROBIS Handicap (1200m), while in a tricky race to end the day, Polarising could take some beating for Hannah Le Blanc in the bet365 Handicap (1000m).

The weather in Darwin this week has been a mixture of sunshine and showers, with the latter always possible, in varying quantities, at this time of the year. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. A thunderstorm likely. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. The temperature is forecast to reach 32 degrees, and it will be 25 degrees overnight. There is an 80% chance of 1-20mm of rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 2.48pm (NT time), which is 4.18pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.12pm (NT time), or 7.42pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 4 STRAYA PRIDE
Two-time Darwin winner who is getting close to another success on the track. Last three efforts for two third placings and an excellent second last start to Rossanado have been full of merit, and although yet to win over this trip of 1300m, has been placed on a couple of occasions. Drawn out a little but good run from this barrier to the first turn at the 600m mark. Aaron Sweeney takes the mount today and he was in winning form at the last meeting here. Looks very tough to hold out.

R2 # 1 JUMPING POWER TWO
Unbeaten in four starts in the Top End and has been beautifully placed by his trainer Tommy Logan. Won three 0-58 sprints before stepping up impressively to score last time out over 1100m in 0-64 grade, and tackles another 0-64 here. Will be attempting 1200m for the first time in Darwin but the way in which he has strung together a quartet of wins suggests the trip will be no issue for the son of Super One. Can make it five on the bounce in this six-horse field.

R4 # 2 ZOURATA
Quality sprinter who will be having his first run this campaign and his first in the care of Terry Gillett. Formerly trained by Peter Robl, the son of Zoustar has won eight of his 28 starts and was a gallant second to Wild Beau when last produced in the Montgomerie Lightning on Darwin Cup Day. Has won three times at this trip of 1100m and won a trial pre-Christmas in preparation for this assignment. Handy field but should take plenty of beating from an inside gate.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 4, 2, 1, 8
RACE 2 – 1, 3, 4, 5
RACE 3 – 2, 3, 1, 6
RACE 4 – 2, 4, 6, 1
RACE 5 – 5, 1, 3, 2

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