For the second successive year, the Adelaide River Cup meeting will be held in Darwin this Saturday due to the track at the River being unsuitable for racing at this time. It is to be hoped we can return to Adelaide River at the end of August in 2024. The fields continue to be short in quantity, but that will be about to change as we move into June and towards the first day of the Darwin Cup Carnival, which is set down for 8 July. Some 42 acceptors paid up to race this Saturday, and all have riders engaged, which is heartening. On the downside, there are four five-horse fields, including in the feature $30,000 Ladbrokes Adelaide River Cup over 1600m.
However the Cup, an open handicap, has attracted a competitive line-up, with the two best chances appearing to Magnolia Rose, the equal bottom weight with 54kg, and the topweight, Siakam, who will carry 60kg. Both are last-start winners, Magnolia Rose a fortnight ago over this trip in 0-70 grade, while Siakam also won on the same day but over 1300m in the open handicap. Siakam, the St Pat’s Cup winner, has won three of his last five starts and the 1600m will hold no fears for him, having won twice and been placed four times from nine attempts over the trip, while Magnolia Rose, trained by Kerry Petrick, will be receiving 6kg from Siakam and over this trip, that could prove the difference.
The other three contenders – Smuggling, a two-time Pioneer Sprint winner and a winner at his only previous 1600m outing; Boom Boom Sweet, a stablemate of Magnolia Rose who was a good second last start to class act That’s Justified over 1400m on Darwin Cup Day; and Ironedge, who has three seconds and a third from his only four starts in the NT – are all capable of toppling the two favourites and add plenty of quality to the small Cup field.
The day’s other feature is the Oolloo Investments Handicap, an Average Benchmark event over 1200m. Swing With Junior, backing up from an impressive win over the same trip a week ago, will carry 54.5kg with Jade Hampson’s claim, a half-kilo less than she carried when winning last Saturday. The other four runners are all from the leading stable of Gary Clarke, and any of the four could win without causing a surprise. It should be a competitive contest.
The weather in the Top End continues to be brilliant, and a top of 30 degrees, with a 19 degree night, is forecast for race day. The Dry Season is here for sure and it’s perfect racing conditions for all. The first on the card gets underway at 1.51pm (NT time), which is 2.21pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland, while the last of the seven races on the programme is timed to go at 5.20pm (NT time), or 5.50pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland.
BEST BETS
R6, No.3 – VENTING
Good staying type who has done nothing wrong in three starts since returning to the Territory. Those three outings were all in Alice Springs, where he won on 19 March before finishing second to Mug’s Game and third to subsequent AS Cup winner Write Your Name in his latest start on 17 April. Missed Cup weekend in the Red Centre with a slight issue but now back in the Top End and needs to lift his rating to figure in the big middle distance contests over the Carnival. Should be very hard to beat in this 0-64 event over a distance that he has yet to win but has placed twice second from just three starts.
R7, No.5 – MAGNOLIA ROSE
In-form mare who looks extremely well-placed here. Won a fortnight ago over this trip in 0-70 grade and on the minimum here, getting 6kg from topweight Siakam. Has won twice and been placed twice from just four NT starts and looks a 5yo with a real future over a mile and possibly further – she has five wins from 14 starts at 1600m. Kerry Petrick’s team has been racing in good form lately and she won this race way back in 1997 with Lance, her first feature race winner, but of course it was at Adelaide River! A repeat looks on the cards here.
GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE
R4, No.1 – RISING SPHERE
Looked a star sprinter in the making when winning twice during the Carnival of 2022, and has not raced since mid-October last year. Lightly-raced and has been given plenty of time to develop and grow into his considerable frame. Had a quiet trial in Darwin just under three weeks ago and looked in good order for his return here. That trial was won in good time by race rival Star Magnum, who looks the hardest for Rising Sphere to beat. That said, I think the top weight can make a winning return for leading trainer Gary Clarke, with Jarrod Todd in the saddle, having had a number of previous starts on the track.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 4, 6, 7, 1
RACE 2 – 5, 3, 2, 1
RACE 3 – 2, 1, 3, 4
RACE 4 – 1, 2, 3, 4
RACE 5 – 2, 4, 1, 3
RACE 6 – 3, 4, 2, 1
RACE 7 – 5, 1, 4, 3
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