Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (19/09)

By Andrew O’Toole

Racing returns to Fannie Bay Racecourse today following a fortnight’s hiatus, during which time additional sand and a conditioning agent was applied to the track, as normally happens at this time each year and in advance of the onset of the wet season.

The track looks to have come back in first class order for today’s four-race card – the 0-64 1200m failed to attract the requisite five entries at acceptance time on Wednesday and was therefore deleted. Nevertheless, there are some interesting contests to get our teeth into, and one of the stars of the recent Cup Carnival, Wild Beau, will be on show again in the third of the day.

The day’s feature will be the third, the $25,800 Airmaster Handicap over the short course of 1000m, and Wild Beau, with just four rivals, looks the testing material once again. Ella Clarke’s 6yo son of Brazen Beau from a Redoute’s Choice mare has had four starts this campaign since returning from a short South Australian preparation, and has been successful in three of the four, two over this trip of 1000m and once at 1100m.

The only time he was not in the winner’s circle he arguably went his best race ever, finishing a fine third in the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) to Boldinho and Early Crow after drawing the outside gate of 11 and having to do a power of work to cross and lead the hot favourite Balastier. That he was able to keep on so gamely to be beaten only 4.5 lengths is a credit to his ability and intestinal fortitude.

He will again have the services of Jess Booth, who has been aboard the speed machine on three occasions for two wins and the Palmerston third. Her 2kg will reduce the horse’s weight from 62kg to 60kg, and he won last time out with 59kg so in this similar field, he looks very well placed to pick up his 11th career win at the 24th time of asking. He has drawn four in the five-horse field but such is his gate speed, he should cross and lead and will be very hard to run down.

Wild Beau’s main opposition will come from Clarke’s father Gary, who has three of the five runners engaged.

Rising Sphere, although now a 9yo, still retains plenty of ability as evidenced in his two placed efforts this campaign. He finished third in the Montgomerie Lightning (1000m) behind Arizona Activist on Darwin Cup Day, then went one better when chasing home Wild Beau here three weeks ago. He will have the services of Danielle Hirini this time – Jarrod Todd rode at his last start – and she rode a double at the last meeting in the Top End so is in good form.

Field Of Flutes is the second of Clarke senior’s trio, and the horse which gave the master trainer his 1,000th Darwin winner in June is another with an undeniable chance.

He chased home Genetic Freak after a stirring home straight battle here on 5 September over 1200m, and Todd, who was aboard when he last won on 20 June, is reunited with the son of Deep Field. He has raced well in between times, with a sixth in the Palmerston a far better run than it looks on paper. He is always a contender in a race of this nature but is unlikely to be able to lead with Wild Beau in the field.

Flying Annie completes the Clarke trio, and she too cannot be discounted. She finished third to Wild Beau, beaten 4.6 lengths, last time they clashed on 29 August and the 8yo mare, the winner of eight of her 38 career starts, will no doubt give a good account of herself once again.

The lone non-Clarke runner is visitor Cable Boy, trained by Kelvin Moore at Derby in West Australia. The 9yo son of Oratorio will be having his first start in the Top End and comes here via a preparation that has taken in Broome, where he was successful four starts back over 1435m on 1 August, and Kununurra, where he had two starts for two fourth placings. The seven-race winner will have the services of Billy Cray and from the inside gate, could make his presence felt, although I fear that the Darwin-trained sprinters may be too sharp for him over this 1000m scamper.

Other leading hopes on the day are Press Express (Tommy Logan/Cray) in the first, Order Online (Clarke/Todd) in the second, and Snappy Sweetheart (Phil Cole/Angel Brennan) in the last, although Meet Me At The Bar, who broke his maiden last start in good fashion, will certainly be competitive from the inside gate.

The weather in Darwin this week has been fine and warm, as the humidity continues to build towards the wet season. The official forecast for today reads: Mostly sunny. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northeasterly during the day then becoming light during the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a warm 34 degrees, while it will be 23 degrees overnight. There is a just a 5% chance of any rain.

The first race on the four-race card gets underway at 3.12pm (NT time), which is 3.42pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.57pm (NT time), or 5.27pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 5 PRESS EXPRESS
Knocking on the door for trainer Tommy Logan. Not beaten far at Katherine two starts back when second to Anecdotal, then filled the same position, beaten 0.3 lengths, behind I Loverain in a BM54 over 1200m on 29 August. Steps up to 1300m here and although yet to win at the trip, has been placed twice from three attempts. Drawn the ace and with even luck in running, can storm over the top of them late. Billy Cray retains the mount.

R2 # 1 ORDER ONLINE
Finished off strongly to win here a fortnight ago over 1100m, and the extra 100m this time should be to his liking. Should arguably have won at his previous start too when after hanging badly, he went down by less than a length to stablemate Tears Are Flowing. Was ridden more quietly last start and it appeared to suit and his manners were much better. Jarrod Todd goes aboard this time and he should be very hard to beat for leading trainer Gary Clarke.

R3 # 1 WILD BEAU
Flying machine who just seems to be getting better. Has won four times over this 1000m trip, including last start when too strong for Rising Sphere, a rival again. Jess Booth gets on well with the 6yo son of Brazen Beau and her 2kg apprentice claim will once again be an advantage. Drawn four in the five-horse field but they will have to go quick to head him off, such is his gate speed. Can pick up his 11th win at his 24th career outing.