The annual Two Cups Raceday, sponsored by Ladbrokes, takes place at Tennant Creek this Saturday when the Territory’s focus will be very much on the Barkly. The first of the country meetings held each year in the NT, the Tennant Turf Club have been hard at work readying their facility for an influx of participants and racing enthusiasts, and with a six-race card and some 39 acceptors, it promises to be a tremendous day of country racing action. The meeting is also live on Sky 2 and it will be well worth tuning in for.
The $30,000 feature is the Ladbrokes & Remote Industries Australia Tennant Creek Cup over 1600m, and a six-horse field has been assembled headed by last-start AS Cup sixth placegetter Lunch Session, from the Dick Leech stable. Three-time TC Cup winner Angela Forster will saddle up Spielberg for the big race, but it may be the up-and-coming Taipan Tommy that holds the key for Strathalbyn trainer Kym Healy. Taipan Tommy is in a rich vein of form, having won three of his last four starts in the Red Centre, and apprentice Ianish Luximon will take the mount for the first time. The 1600m should be ideal – he won over the trip last time out on 30 April in Alice Springs – and a bold showing seems assured.
The day’s supporting feature is the Little Rippers Lifestyles Denis Staunton Memorial Cup for the sprinters over 1200m. Like the Tennant Creek Cup, a field of half a dozen will line up for this year’s renewal, and Sedona, the only horse in the field who has previously raced on the track, makes plenty of appeal. Phil Cole’s 6yo finished second here 12 months ago, has been racing well in the Red Centre and is coming off a last-start second to Madam Mischief over 1100m on 22 April. Hardest to beat should be fellow Darwin-trained mare Zoumist, from the Forster stable, while Trystoff is a consistent type who should be suited here.
The Territory’s five apprentice jockeys will all be in attendance at the fixture, with AS Cup winning jockey Jade Hampson having a good-looking book of rides. Dakota-Lee Gillett, fresh from a win at Strathalbyn midweek, returns to the NT and along with in-form Emma Lines, Lek Maloney and Luximon, will come up against senior riders Mark Pegus (Vic), Casey Hunter, Dan Morgan and Phillip Crich as they battle for leading rider honours on the day.
The weather in the Barkly is set fair at present, and a top of 27 is forecast, with sunny skies, for Saturday. It will be a little breezy but that certainly won’t dampen the enthusiasm of what should be a first-class crowd converging on Hagan Park to witness the club’s only meeting of the year. The first on the card gets underway at the earlier time of 1.01pm (NT time), which is 1.37pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland, while the Cup, the last on the programme, is timed to go at 4.06pm (NT time), or 4.26pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland.
BEST BETS
R4, No.1 – PAULO PACE
Twice second from three runs during the recent Alice Springs Cup Carnival, the most recent of those when chasing home Eureka’s Victory over 2000m on Cup Day (30 April). Finished runner-up two starts previously to the smart Kerioth over 1400m. Drops back in trip here from his last outing but this does not look a strong lot and with Jade Hampson’s 2kg claim, the 7yo gets in well at the weights. Should take a power of beating.
R6, No.3 – TAIPAN TOMMY
Was arguably the lower grade star of the AS Carnival, with three wins and a second from four outings. Bolted in over 1400m on 22 April and followed that up with another convincing victory over 1600m in 0-62 grade on Cup Day, beating home the capable Mangione. This is a good deal harder but looks a horse on the up and Kym Healy will have him primed to put his best foot forward in the day’s feature. In-form apprentice Ianish Luximon takes the mount and he should give punters a great run for their money.
GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE
R3, No.5 – PAKETTA
Still a maiden after 14 starts but gets an ideal opportunity to break through for that elusive first win in the 1000m scamper. Has been placed twice second over the trip and possesses plenty of speed. From the inside gate expect her to be giving her four rivals plenty to chase and as long as the long Hagan Park home straight doesn’t trip her up late, she can get home in the third of the day.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 2, 3, 4, 6
RACE 2 – 2, 4, 5, 1
RACE 3 – 5, 2, 1, 3
RACE 4 – 1, 3, 2, 6
RACE 5 – 2, 3, 4, 5
RACE 6 – 3, 2, 1, 4
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