Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (14/11)

By Andrew O’Toole

Racing returns to Fannie Bay today for the first time since Melbourne Cup Day 11 days ago, and an excellent card of five races, with all bar one featuring each-way betting, awaits us in the Top End. Some 43 horses have accepted for the fixture, and a good afternoon of racing seems assured, as long as the predicted late afternoon rain does not arrive until after the last at 4.51pm.

The weather in Darwin and the north of the country has been very hot and humid lately, and there is always a chance of a thunderstorm or shower of rain at this time of the year. That said, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the monsoon season won’t hit the Top End until January! If that’s going to be the case, it will be a very long couple of months for Darwinites.

The highest graded race of the afternoon is the fourth on the card, the $25,800 Vale Philip Neck Handicap for the 0-76 gallopers over 1100m. The race is run in honour of the late Philip Neck, who was the Chief Executive of the Darwin Turf Club from late 2010 until the end of 2013. A true racing man, he lost his life suddenly in the last month and will be sadly missed by many racing enthusiasts in the Territory and farther afield.

Steamy Mist, who has looked well above average in her only two Top End starts to date, is favoured to make it three wins on end. From the in-form Tommy Logan stable and with Billy Cray, similarly in top form, to again do the riding, Steamy Mist, a 5yo daughter of Headwater, has really taken to the Darwin way of life and surface, winning impressively on both her outings to date, on 17 October and then on Melbourne Cup Day (3 November).

In her latest start, she sat behind the speed, travelled well during the run and when clear, raced right away to win by over five lengths without being fully tested. That was a 0-70 1100m and although now in 0-76 company, she looks very well placed to continue her fine form. Her inside barrier should again allow her a nice run in transit, and it will be a surprise if she is not highly competitive once again.

Hardest to beat might be Physical Graffiti, another horse going up in grade after a last-start win on 24 October. A lightly-raced 6yo son of Russian Revolution trained by Gary Clarke, Physical Graffiti had his first start back off a long spell when third on 5 September, and with seven weeks until his next run, he put his best foot forward to beat Jumping Power Two in the hands of Dakota Gillett on 24 October.

Gillett, just recently out of her apprenticeship, has again been entrusted with the mount and Physical Graffiti, the winner of six of his 20 career starts, looks a good chance to improve on that already decent record.

Cavern, trained by Dick Leech, has, like Steamy Mist, had just two starts in the NT for two wins. The son of Brazen Beau scored impressively on Darwin Cup Day and then had a three-month break until produced again on Melbourne Cup Day. He showed a good deal of tenacity to dash through late to score narrowly from Rising Water and company, and the three-race winner from only eight starts looks to have a real future in the Top End.

Danielle Hirini, who has done a good deal of riding for the Leech stable in the last 18 months, has been handed the mount and if successful, will be the third individual rider after Jade Hampson and Vanessa Arnott to team successfully with Cavern since coming to the Territory.

Bruno Bruno was back to something like his best form last time when third over 1600m behind Fury on 24 October. However, the drop back to 1100m is probably not ideal but that said, he has been placed twice from four starts at the trip. Stan Tsaikos will do the riding for the Tayarn Halter stable, and he should not be left out of calculations.

Devils Delight, the second of three from the Clarke Racing team – Flying Annie completes the trio of contenders from the stable – is talented and has won four times over this distance. Jarrod Todd, who rode a double on Melbourne Cup Day, has the mount but has a tricky gate of eight to overcome.

Flying Annie, although now an 8yo, still possesses plenty of ability and cannot be left out of multiples, while topweight Tartaglia, having his second start in Darwin, is another with claims on his best form. Orion The Hunter has not started since late July but does race well in a fresh state and adds further to the puzzle.

The weather in Darwin continues to be hot and humid and there is always the prospect of a shower or thunderstorm. The official forecast for today reads: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. A thunderstorm likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending westerly during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach a steamy 35 degrees, while it will be a warm 27 degrees overnight. There is a 70% chance of 0-8mm of rain.

The first race on the five-race card gets underway at 2.34pm (NT time), which is 4.04pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.51pm (NT time), or 6.21pm in New South Wales and Victoria.

BEST BETS

R1 # 2 KING AKEED
Could only manage fourth when dropped back in trip to 1100m last time out on Melbourne Cup Day, but was super impressive winning at his previous outing over this distance of 1300m on 17 October when first-up. Stable in top form and has a nice draw to aid his chances. Looks very hard to beat in the day’s opener.

R3 # 1 LONG REIGN
Was never on the track at her first start in Darwin on 24 October, and to finish as close as she did in fifth was an effort full of merit. Drawn better this time and Stan Tsaikos goes aboard for trainer Chris Nash. Showed enough in that Darwin debut to rate a decent chance in this special conditions event. Should be in the finish.

R4 # 6 STEAMY MIST
Has been unstoppable in two Top End starts to date for trainer Tommy Logan. Was too strong for Tears Are Flowing over 1000m on 17 October then gave his rivals a thrashing when beating the in-form Littlebourkestreet and company by 5.5 lengths over this trip of 1100m on Melbourne Cup Day. Up in grade from a 0-70 to this 0-76, but from the inside gate should get all favours and can make it three on end.