Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (03/10)

By Andrew O’Toole

A third meeting in successive weeks takes place at Fannie Bay today, with a decent five-race card before a fortnight’s break. The fields are more than acceptable, with 36 horses down to contest the fixture, and the feature sprint on the card over 1100m has attracted an excellent nine-horse field with plenty of chances.

The $28,000 Pointsbet Pull ‘Em Handicap is an Average Benchmark 73 contest and as usual, leading trainer Gary Clarke is well represented, with three runners engaged. Daughter Ella also has a runner, while Tommy Logan is double handed with Jumping Power Two, fresh from a short break, and Polarising his candidates.

However, I am looking up the top of the handicap to find the winner and believe that Field Of Flutes, although burdened with 61.5kg, can return to the winner’s circle for Clarke and rider Jarrod Todd.

The 7yo son of Deep Field has been second at his last two starts behind Genetic Freak, a rival again, and Wild Beau, and three starts back he finished sixth to stablemate Boldinho in the Palmerston Sprint. The nine-race winner seldom goes a bad race and the 1100m of today’s event should be right up his alley – he has won three times and been placed on three further occasions from 13 outings at the trip.

Incidentally, Todd, somewhat incredibly, has yet to win a race this season, with the six-time premiership winner having ridden no less than 11 seconds so far this season. That said, he has missed a couple of Top End meetings and rode four seconds at the last two meetings held in Darwin. He will certainly be doing his best to break that frustrating run of minor placings.

Hardest for the topweight to beat should be one of his stablemates, Rising Sphere. The 9yo by Exosphere has only had three runs this campaign, and while yet to win, has been once second and twice third, the most recent of those behind Wild Beau over 1000m on 19 September. Although now in the veteran stage, he still retains a zest for racing, and Wayne Davis will have the steer today. The 12-race winner has drawn nicely in barrier four and looks certain to give the topweight plenty of opposition.

Genetic Freak has had just the three starts in Darwin, and the former NSW-trained 7yo son of Shalaa has improved with each outing, culminating in a last-start win over 1200m, beating Field Of Flutes, on 5 September. Dakota Gillett rode on that occasion and will again have the mount for Tayarn Halter on what will be her last racemeeting as an apprentice. She needs two further wins to outride her provincial claim, and in Genetic Freak, she has a good chance to creep one closer to the milestone.

Struck Gold, trained by Ella Clarke, has had a couple of runs this campaign for a second to Shisuta Bo over 1300m during the Carnival, before a third behind Rossanado over the same trip on 5 September. He races best with his races spaced so with that in mind, and Jess Booth to take the mount, he should be highly competitive. Booth and Clarke have had a great run lately courtesy of Wild Beau and Debating last week, and can continue their excellent association.

Flying Annie is the third of the Clarke Racing team, and while a little below her best just lately, has the ability to bounce back without causing a major surprise. Visiting 3kg claimer Angel Brennan, who has ridden at the last couple of Darwin meetings, has the mount this time and will reduce the mare’s weight to a luxury 53kg. She has drawn a little awkwardly, however, which may make her task a little more difficult.

Logan’s pair of Jumping Power Two and Polarising are other with chances. Jumping Power Two won during the Carnival but has not had a start since Cup Day on 3 August, so he comes in here in a fresh state at which he has excelled in the past. This is a step-up in grade, however, and he will need to be at his best to fill a dividend-bearing position. Polarising, too, is first-up and the six-race winner will also have to find her best form, although the inside gate will aid her chances.

Atlantic Ocean, another having his first run for some time, and Zing To Win complete the line-up and on their best form could sneak into a placing.

The weather in Darwin this week has again been fine and warm, although the humidity is certainly more noticeable day by day and the cloud increasing, mainly in the afternoons. There was a decent shower on Wednesday night, with about 19mls falling at Fannie Bay. The official forecast for today reads: Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then turning north to northwesterly during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to 34 degrees, while it will be 24 degrees overnight. There is a 50% chance of 0-2mm.

The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.24pm (NT time), which is 2.54pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.49pm (NT time), or 5.19pm in New South Wales and Victoria. And bear in mind, daylight saving changes tomorrow, Sunday 4 October, at 2am, making the difference between the NT and the eastern seaboard 1.5hours.

BEST BETS

R1 # 4 TEE GALLERIA
Broke his maiden when fresh-up from a five-plus month spell on 1 August, and in two starts since, was second to Sass over this trip of 1300mon 29 August and third to All Inclusive over 1200m a fortnight ago. Has only had nine career outings and seems to be getting stronger with each preparation. Trainer/rider Paul Shiers was back in winning form on resumption from injury last Friday, and can continue his winning run here.

R2 # 1 BRUNO BRUNO
Capable and consistent 5yo son of Hellbent who seldom goes a bad race. Second at his last two starts behind Rossanado over 1300m on 5 September then filled the same place behind Littlebourkestreet here six days ago over 1200m. Has won four times from nine starts over this trip (1300m) and Stan Tsaikos takes the mount for Tayarn Halter. Can return to winning form in this seven-horse line-up.

R4 # 1 FIELD OF FLUTES
Quality sprinter knocking on the door. Sixth in the Palmerston Sprint behind stablemate Boldinho three starts back then second at his last two attempts behind Genetic Freak, a rival again, over 1200m on 5 September and to Wild Beau over 1000m a fortnight ago. Has plenty of weight (61.5kg) to carry but the Gary Clarke-trained 7yo will have the services of Jarrod Todd to guide his fortunes. Decent race but he looks well placed to secure an overdue win.