The opening day of the 2026 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival takes place at Fannie Bay in Darwin today, with the $82,500 DCOH Darwin Guineas for the three-year-olds over 1600m the day’s feature. It is the last of nine races on the day and, although there are some smallish fields on the card, the Guineas has attracted a near-capacity line-up of 11 second-season performers.

There are numerous chances in the event and different formlines to weigh up, but judged on his efforts during his last campaign in Alice Springs, I am keen on Dick Leech’s Leveraged Buyout to complete the double of the Alice Springs and Darwin Guineas.

Leveraged Buyout, a son of Dundeel and the Pivotal mare Rosental, created an immediate impression on arrival in the Red Centre, winning his first two outings over 1600m and 1400m before snaring the Guineas, narrowly, from Gallahop. Leech then elected to run his charge twice on Cup weekend – he finished second to Rock Revolution in the three and four-year-old 1600m on the Saturday, and then two days later, came within 0.4 lengths of winning the Alice Springs Cup (2000m), just failing to catch Magic Defense.

His only run in the Top End was a fortnight ago when, in the hands of Guineas rider Jade Hampson, he hit the line strongly to be beaten into fifth behind Hammurabi and company over 1300m by just under three lengths. He was only getting warmed up as the post was reached, and the extra 300m will be very much to his liking. Hampson, the former NT apprentice now based on the Gold Coast, is looking for back-to-back Guineas, having piloted Vanguard Legend to a memorable win in the event 12 months ago.

For all his success in major races in Darwin – he has won two Darwin Cups and three Palmerstons, among other features – Leech has yet to taste success in the DCOH Darwin Guineas but in Leveraged Buyout, he looks to have the right horse this year.

Hammurabi, trained by Tayarn Halter and to be ridden by Raymond Vigar, has done nothing wrong in two Top End starts to date, winning first-up in maiden company by over six lengths on 6 June, before a narrow victory in the 3yo lead-up to the Guineas over 1300m on 20 June. He is only lightly raced but gives every impression that he will get further than 1300m – he was placed second over 1500m at Goulburn prior to coming to Darwin. He is a strongly-built son of King’s Legacy who appears certain to race handy to the pace from barrier five and looks sure to be in the finish.

Easy Red, although it was only a maiden, was very strong when breaking through for a first win over 1300m last week. Trained by Chris Nash, the son of Omaha Beach was stuck four-wide for the first 700m of the event, then three-wide across the top, but still kicked away from his rivals to win impressively by over four lengths.

His earlier form before coming to the Top End included three thirds and a second placing, so he was nothing if not deserving of his maiden win. And there seems a sense of timing about the gelding – the only downside is his outside barrier draw of 11. He should be included in your multiples.

Merimbula, trained by the powerful Gary Clarke team and seeking to give his trainer a fifth win in the race, was a first-up winner at Fannie Bay on 23 May and has since run fourth to Laws Wars and third to Hammurabi, the latter effort when finishing off resolutely over the concluding stages. The trip of 1600m will be right up his alley and he looks the type to get the Derby trip of 2050m too.

Hopeless Romantic for Neil Dyer is an interesting runner. The son of Hellbent has only had three starts in Victoria for two seconds before a last-start win over this trip at Swan Hill on 7 June. He had a trial here last week and finished that off well to be right on the heels of the placegetters over 900m. Campbell Rawiller, on his first day’s riding in the Top End, will take the mount and he must be considered.

Morgana, the only filly in the event, is trained by Michael Hickmott who is another trainer seeking his first win in the event. She is a well-performed daughter of Russian Camelot and although she beat only one home here a fortnight ago behind Hammurabi, she will be much improved for that outing and has the services of Joe Bowditch, who has teamed up for many wins with Hickmott over the years.

Fledgling trainer Rhonda Cole, who saddled up her first winner with a trainer’s license just a week ago when Rivers Of Babylon saluted, will have that horse and stablemate Pleasing Smile as her dual representatives. Both have claims on their best form and have drawn ideally in 3 and 2 respectively.

Maldini is the second of the Clarke-trained runners, and will be having his first start in Darwin. He won over 1600m at Pakenham two starts back and as the winner of three races and five times placed from 16 starts, he must be respected. Jason Lyon will team up with the son of Too Darn Hot.

Crazy Town, the second of the Nash-trained runners, is a two-time winner at Kyneton and Wodonga and his effort for sixth behind Ichiban in a BM76 1600m here a week ago was more than a pass mark. Richard Bensley, who has teamed up with Nash for the Carnival, will be aboard and the experienced NSW rider will give the Super Seth gelding every chance.

Beachbarbeckons completes the line-up for trainer-rider Paul Shiers and on his most recent efforts, would need to improve to pick up a cheque.

The weather in Darwin this week has been strange for what is normally beautiful dry season weather at this time of year. There has been a mixture of cloud and sun, with even a light sprinkle of rain, but the forecast is definitely on the improve. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northeasterly during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. There is just a 5% chance of any rain.

The first race on the nine-race card gets underway at 12.22pm (NT time), which is 12.52pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.14pm (NT time), or 5.44pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R4 # 2 ORION THE HUNTER
Putting together a good record for Jason Manning, and actually gave him his 200th win as a trainer when last produced on 13 June. Seems to race best when in a fresh state, and has not started for three weeks. Two starts for two wins at this trip of 1300m and Vanessa Arnott has a good association with the son of Deep Field. Should prove very hard to beat in this small field.

R7 # 5 BALASTIER
Five times a winner from just 11 starts in Queensland and Victoria. Most recently trained by Danny O’Brien in Melbourne but now in the Top End with Chloe Baxter. Possesses plenty of pace and almost always leads in his races. Has won between 1000m and 1200m and this 1100m up against just five rivals looks tailor-made for the son of Brazen Beau. Could be just too quick for them.

R9 # 6 LEVERAGED BUYOUT
AS Guineas winner back in mid-April and then finished second to Rock Revolution over 1600m before a slashing second to Magic Defense in the AS Cup on 4 May. Came from many lengths off the lead to go down by less than a half-length. First Top End start produced an eye-catching fifth behind Hammurabi and company in the 1300m Guineas lead-up a fortnight ago. Classy and can complete the Territory Guineas double in the hands of last year’s winning rider, Jade Hampson.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 1, 4, 3, 6
RACE 2 – 3, 2, 1, 6
RACE 3 – 9, 2, 6, 4
RACE 4 – 2, 3, 4, 1
RACE 5 – 5, 2, 3, 4
RACE 6 – 2, 4, 1, 3
RACE 7 – 5, 1, 3, 2
RACE 8 – 4, 7, 5, 2
RACE 9 – 6, 4, 3, 8

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