Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Katherine (15/08)

By Andrew O’Toole

Racing in the Top End heads down the highway some 317km today for the annual Ladbrokes Katherine Cup meeting at Jim Jackson Racecourse. An excellent card of seven races has been assembled, with the Benchmark 54 1300m being divided due to 19 nominations, and a total of 59 runners expected at the popular post-Darwin Cup Carnival fixture. Darwin trainer Phil Cole and his trainer wife Rhonda have a total of 21 runners engaged at the meeting, but the pair is not represented in the feature $35,000 Katherine Cup over 1700m. Kerry Petrick is the only trainer who has multiple representatives in the Cup – Venting, The Girl’s Boy and Princess Pancakes will be her runners – and I fancy the topweight, grand campaigner Venting, to give his trainer another win in the Cup, which she has to date won on two occasions with Statue Of Warriors (2016) and two years ago with Venting.

Venting has, in fact, raced in the last two Katherine Cups, finishing a distant third 12 months ago behind the runaway winner Hettinger, so he obviously has a liking for the track, which this year promises to be a little on the soft side due to having sand applied to the surface just recently. The wet season floods in the town played havoc with the track, washing a lot of the top surface away, hence forcing the recent replenishment.

That said, the team at Katherine have been working hard to prepare the surface, which will still present even footing, although you will need a fit horse to handle it.

And this is where Venting, the Metric Mile winner in Darwin before finishing down the track in the Darwin Cup, should come into his own. He is a tough and resilient performer, and the former NT Derby winner, AS Cup winner and two-time Tennant Creek Cup victor should again give his backers a great sight. He will have to carry 64kg, 1.5kg and more than his rivals, but the tough 8yo gelding is a big strong fellow and with Stan Tsaikos to guide his fortunes, he should be highly competitive.

Carrying 7.5kg less, Hotim English looks one of the biggest obstacles to Venting taking out his second Katherine Cup. Ella Clarke’s 6yo son of Star Turn has been tried at 2050m at his last two starts, finishing eighth behind Maxxi Bon in the Buntine Handicap before a fine second to Maldini, and only narrowly beaten, on Darwin Cup Day. He is proving a decent stayer and although this is a good deal harder than his last outing, he should give a good account of himself in the hands of Jessica Booth.

Capitol Hill was highly fancied when only fourth to Vieri on 1 August but he was on the week back-up which may not have suited him. That said, he disappointed somewhat but if anywhere near the form that resulted in a second to Fury on 25 July, he would give this a shake. Last year’s NT Derby winner has had an injury-plagued campaign and should have plenty of upside here. Dakota Gillett takes the mount on the 5yo son of Prized Icon for trainer Chloe Baxter, who had a day out on Darwin Cup Day with a treble of wins.

Prince Jofra, last year’s Darwin Cup runner-up to Hadouken, missed this year’s renewal with a foot abscess after just one run in the Top End, which produced a sixth on 4 July over 1600m. Trainer Jason Manning will have worked tirelessly to have his charge back on track for this assignment and from the inside gate, he should get a decent run in transit. His class could take him a long way towards success here.

Vega Magnifico was only eighth in the Metric Mile behind Venting but was not beaten far, only 4.7 lengths in fact. Neil Dyer’s charge is better than his three Darwin runs would suggest, and the Bordertown Cup winner, to be ridden by NSW hoop Billy Cray, could be the surprise packet in the Cup from a handy gate. Dyer has won this race on three occasions and a fourth may not be beyond him with the son of Lope De Vega.

Barocco Bar raced consistently through the Darwin Cup Carnival apart from a lack-lustre last-start eight behind The Accelator on Cup Day, and a bold showing would not surprise, while Petrick’s support crew of The Girl’s Boy and Princess Pancakes are others with claims in an excellent renewal of the Katherine feature.

The weather in Katherine this week has been mostly sunny with a little scattered cloud. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a warm 34 degrees during the day, and it will be 13 degrees overnight. There is no chance of any rain.

The first race on the seven-race card gets underway at 1.42pm (NT time), which is 2.12pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.04pm (NT time), or 5.34pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 1 AUXILIARY
Lightly-raced 6yo who impressed with a first-up win in Darwin on 8 July, before two further placed runs – a second to Montjuic Magic over 1200m on 18 July, and a fourth to the same horse over 1300m on Darwin Cup Day. Drops back to 1100m here which should be far more suitable. Has plenty of pace and should lead this first from barrier three, and will take plenty of catching in the hands of apprentice Lek Maloney.

R3 # 5 FLASH KERMY
Two excellent seconds at her last two starts in Darwin on 25 July and 1 August. Chased home Pafitis and Tee Galleria over 1100m and 1200m respectively. Back to 1000m should not prove an impediment to her chances and the daughter of Kermadec will give a great sight for trainer Phil Cole, who has three runners engaged in this event and 18 all-up on the day, and stable rider Wayne Davis.

R7 # 1 VENTING
Veteran who despite an ordinary showing last time out in the Darwin Cup, has been racing as well as ever lately. Won this race two years ago and finished third to Hettinger in 2025, so obviously has a liking for the track. Stan Tsaikos takes over from Aaron Sweeney here and although burdened with topweight of 64kg, looks the testing material in a competitive Ladbrokes Katherine Cup. The one to beat.