Andrew O’Toole’s best at Darwin on Melbourne Cup Day (03/11)

By Andrew O’Toole

One of the big “out of Carnival” racedays takes place today at Fannie Bay when the time-honoured Melbourne Cup Day is held, with a big crowd expected on-course to cheer on their local fancies and have a flutter on the “Race That Stops The Nation” at Flemington.

The Cup is run at 1.30pm NT time and as is traditional, the first of half a dozen races in the Top End gets underway shortly after, at 1.51pm. A tremendous local card awaits racegoers, with 58 acceptors and five each-way betting affairs to get out teeth into.

The only two-dividend race, incidentally, is the day’s $30,000 feature Chris Williams Jewellers Handicap for the open sprinters over 1300m. It looks to be a battle between the Clarkes, father Gary, with three runners, and daughter Ella with one, and I fancy the younger Clarke to come out on top with the last-start winner Struck Gold.

Struck Gold, a 7yo son of Castledale, has done a fine job for his trainer since having his first start in Darwin in early September last year. He has won on four occasions since, and his last-start effort over 1100m in 0-76 grade on 17 October was first-class, beating the very much in-form Littlebourkestreet by a length.

The extra 200m today should not pose a problem for Struck Gold, who has tried the trip on 11 occasions for two wins, four seconds and three thirds. He will be ridden by NSW hoop Richard Bensley, replacing regular rider Jessica Booth who will instead be riding at Morphetteville, so he loses nothing on the score of horsemanship. He will jump from barrier two, and is receiving 4.5kg from the topweight and hardest to beat, Field Of Flutes. He should take plenty of catching.

Field Of Flutes is the yardstick among the current batch of post-Carnival sprinters. Sixth in the Palmerston Sprint on 1 August, he has since raced on four occasions for two wins and two seconds, and is seeking his third consecutive success today. He is used to carrying big weights, having lumped 61.5kg and 62.5kg respectively at his last two winning efforts, beating home good opposition over 1100m and 1200m, so today’s 61kg is well within his scope.

The big unknown with Field Of Flutes is the trip – he has yet to contest a 1300m event – but he is racing so well that he just cannot be left out. Jarrod Todd takes the mount for Clarke snr, and both were big winners at the Top End Racing awards last Friday, Clarke being crowned champion trainer for the 14th straight time while Todd picked up his seventh successive champion jockey title.

Bon’s Pride, second in the Palmerston Sprint in 2025, has been below his best of late but certainly showed he still had a zest for racing when hitting the line strongly into third, beaten just over two lengths, behind Field Of Flutes on 24 October. The Jason Manning-trained 7yo son of Bon Aurum is the winner of three of his 10 starts at 1300m, and with Paul Shiers to guide his prospects from the inside barrier, and with a light weight of 54.5kg, he appeals as a leading chance to upset the Clarke favourites.

Stormfront is the second of Clarke snr’s trio, and he was good last time when second over 1600m to Lim’s Bighorn. He has had his issues this preparation but there is no doubting his quality and with things in his favour today, he could well get some of it in the hands of Billy Cray, who has been in good form lately in the Territory.

Hennessy Lad is Clarke’s third representative, and he comes off a last-start win over 1600m on 25 September. He does not win out of turn but when allowed his own rules in front, he can be difficult to get passed, and he will be ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Angel Brennan. Leave him out of calculations at your peril!

The other two runners are both from the Chris Pollard stable, which showed some form at the most recent meeting with a win courtesy of Lady Fireball, as well as a second and a third placing. Gravina was fourth to Hennessy Lad last time and this trip should suit, while Hamlet Von Snitzel has been disappointing this campaign and will need to find something to be a threat here.

The weather in Darwin continues to be hot and humid and at this time of the year, there is always the prospect of a shower or thunderstorm. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. The temperature is forecast to reach a steamy 35 degrees, while it will be a warm 27 degrees overnight. There is a 60% chance of 0-5mm of rain.

The first race on the six-race card gets underway at 1.51pm (NT time), which is 3.21pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.05pm (NT time), or 6.35pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 1 TOKYO BANDIT
Created a decent impression when winning on his Darwin debut over 1200m on 3 October. Was meant to have run since but was withdrawn on race morning due to a bout of colic. Steps up to 1300m which looks certain to suit the son of Dissident. Richard Bensley returns to Darwin to take the mount for Chris Nash, and the 7yo should again give a good account of himself.

R3 # 3 BE BRIEF
Newcomer to Darwin purchased from the recent tried horse sale held here in late July. The lightly raced 4yo son of Kermadec trialled here last week and even though up against only two rivals, did his job well and looked to have plenty of upside. Has not had a start since finishing seventh of 14 at Balaklava on 14 June but looks ready for a bold first-up showing. Hard to beat.

R4 # 3 BOLD SUITOR
Led and only collared late by Rising Water, a rival again, when first produced in the Top End on 17 October. Formerly trained in Victoria, he showed plenty of speed last time over 1100m and from barrier six should again be prominent over the same distance. Jarrod Todd takes the mount for Gary Clarke and can break through for his first Territory victory.