Andrew O’Toole’s Monday best for Darwin Cup Day (03/08)

By Andrew O’Toole

The Darwin Cup Carnival concludes today with a massive ten-race card highlighted by the running of the 2026 Great Northern Darwin Cup (2050m), and a tremendous line-up has been assembled for the Territory’s biggest race. A tremendous supporting card will also be on offer, with the Simone Montgomerie Lightning Plate (1000m) and the Magic Millions Top End Classic (1300m) adding further to what promises to be a superb day of racing to wrap up the eight days of Carnival action.

The $220,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup, also the richest race in the Territory, is headlined by the $1.6m earner Casino Seventeen, and although now a 9yo, the much-travelled son of Casino Prince seems to be racing as well as ever and his class will carry him a long way towards victory. He actually raced in Darwin six years ago as 3yo, running third in the Guineas and second in the Derby, before finishing seventh in the Darwin Cup won by Highly Decorated. He has since been all over the country, winning the Group 1 Perth Cup in Western Australia on 1 January 2024 among other good events in the state, before a stint in Victoria which produced an Eclipse Stakes (Group 3) win at Caulfield in late November last year.

He has since found his way back to the Top End to the stable of Chloe Baxter, and showed with his only run on the track this campaign in the Chief Minister’s on 11 July that he still has what it takes. Such is his record of 11 wins from 60 starts and his stake earnings, he will have to lump 63.5kg, a weight only 1kg less than star Victorian Hawks Bay carried to win his second Darwin Cup back in 2012. He will be carrying a full 8kg more than the next horse in the handicap, Stormageddon, and the horses on the 54kg minimum will be receiving a whopping 9.5kg pull in the weights from the topweight.

That said, the 105 rater has drawn beautifully in barrier five and will have the services of big-race jockey Jason Lyon, who is used to picking up majors in the Top End, having won last year’s Palmerston with Early Crow and the Derby aboard Capitol Hill. He is chasing his first Darwin Cup and “Hopper” will give his mount every chance of success.

There are a myriad of chances in the Cup, but hardest for Casino Seventeen to beat looks like being Stormageddon, whose fourth in the Chief Minister’s Cup was very much on a par with the third placegetter. The pair finished hard together along the inner and Stormageddon was arguably a little unlucky, running out of room late and being beaten just 0.7 lengths.

He is trained by three-time Darwin Cup winning trainer Michael Hickmott, who obviously knows a thing or two about winning the Top End’s biggest race, and although the 6yo son of So You Think missed some work early in his Darwin sojourn due to an incident in the equine pool, he has bounced back in great style and with Joe Bowditch in the saddle, he will give the topweight a real run for his money.

Maxxi Bon, one of two in the event trained by Chris Nash, who has had a fabulous Carnival, is one of those on the minimum with an undeniable chance. He has won his last two, and his most recent win in the Buntine Handicap over the Cup trip was an excellent staying performance. He will again be ridden by Richard Bensley who, like Nash, has had a tremendous run during the Carnival, and from the inside gate, he should be able to position his mount midfield with cover until the time comes to make his bid for glory.

Nash’s other contender, Rematch, who will jump from barrier two and will be ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan, is another with a sense of timing about him. The son of Real Impact won the Rydges Palmerston Cup on Day 2 of the Carnival, and then was just touched off by Venting in the TAB Metric Mile after looking the winner. He promises to give a good account of himself.

Kerry Petrick is another who is double-handed in the Cup, with Magic Defense and Venting her representatives.

Magic Defense is chasing the elusive Territory Treble bonus of $100,000, awarded to the connections of the horse that can win the Alice Springs Cup, Chief Minister’s Cup and Darwin Cup in the same year. The daughter of National Defense is a model of consistency, and her last-start third in the Metric Mile showed she was right on song for the big one today.

Venting, although now an 8yo, showed he still had plenty of zest for racing when dive-bombing his rivals in the Metric Mile, coming down the outside for a narrow in in the hands of Aaron Sweeney. The former NT Derby winner has each of the club Cups in the NT on his honour roll – the AS Cup, Katherine Cup and two Tennant Creek Cups – and just needs today’s Cup to complete the full set. Look for him to be finishing off strongly.

Hadouken, the winner of the last two Darwin Cups, loves the Fannie Bay track and although down the track in the Chief Minister’s, his earlier third placing in the ROANT Cup behind Dakota Lee was a first-class effort. Paul Shiers, who won on him last year, takes the mount this time and he certainly cannot be left out of calculations

Neither can the just turned 4yo Leveraged Buyout, the winner of the NT Derby and Guineas. Dick Leech’s star is a real talent and with Jade Hampson aboard, he must be included in your multiples, as should Wolfburn, who has had three Darwin Cup starts for a second, third and fourth. His last couple of runs have been top efforts and a bold showing would not surprise.

Hickmott’s second and third contenders, Watadeel and Jimi Hendrix, could both finish in the money without causing any surprise, while Komachi would need to improve on his last-start last in the Metric Mile.

A great renewal of the Darwin Cup awaits us today, good luck and good punting!

The weather in Darwin this week continues to be perfect Dry Season conditions, with lovely days and cooler nights. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. The temperature is forecast to reach 32 degrees, while it will be 21 degrees overnight. There is just a 5% chance of any rain.

The first race on the mammoth ten-race card gets underway at 11.52pm (NT time), which is 12.22pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last, the Great Northern Darwin Cup, is timed to go at 5.30pm (NT time), or 6.00pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R2 # 7 TEXTURE

Created a good impression on Darwin debut with a solid win over Yule Point and company in the 3yo 1200m on Day 5. The now 4yo son of Exceed and Excel looks to have a good future judged on its first run in the Top End, and represents the very much in-form Dick Leech stable. Jade Hampson, currently second in the Carnival jockeys’ premiership, will have the steer again and from a handy gate, should be very tough to beat.

R6 # 4 STORMFRONT

Performed with credit when fifth, and beaten just 2.7 lengths, behind Venting in the TAB Metric Mile last weekend. Had an interrupted preparation leading into that event, and should be much improved for the run. Drawn out a little here but should be able to drop in for a decent run with cover by the time the field enters the back straight. Twice a winner over this trip of 1600m from just four attempts, and should be right in the finish.

R10 # 1 CASINO SEVENTEEN

Slashing run in the Chief Minister’s Cup when flying home into third behind Magic Defense and Dakota Lee. Made up many lengths from the rear and in another stride or two would almost certainly have won. Has to carry 63.5kg, 4.5kg more than last time and eight-plus kilos more than his rivals, but he has the services of Jason Lyon and a good gate of five from which to issue his challenge. Will race handier over this trip and can still prove superior, even with the weight.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1 – 3, 2, 5, 1
RACE 2 – 7, 1, 11, 2
RACE 3 – 1, 5, 3, 2
RACE 4 – 2, 1, 3, 6
RACE 5 – 1, 6, 4, 3
RACE 6 – 4, 7, 11, 2
RACE 7 – 5, 1, 8, 4
RACE 8 – 2, 3, 1, 9
RACE 9 – 3, 4, 8, 9
RACE 10 – 1, 2, 12, 9