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SENTrack: Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best bets at Alice Springs (07/12)
Andrew O’Toole • December 7th, 2024 1:30 pm
A tremendous seven-race card will be contested at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park, Alice Springs, today, with total acceptances for the second-last meeting of the year in the Red Centre numbering 52. Horse numbers have been impressive in the Alice in recent months, so much so that when 19 nominations were received for the 0-58 1200m, and 16 for the class two 1400m, TRNT management made the decision to divide both races, giving the meeting a total of seven events. With ten riders in attendance and a maximum field of nine, it is anticipated that there will be no scratchings other than if an injury or similar were to beset one of the runners.
The day’s feature is race six, the $22,500 Ladbrokes Punter Assist Handicap, a Benchmark 76 event over 1400m. A field of half a dozen has been assembled, and there are numerous chances among them. However, I have settled on last-start winner Kangaroo Court as the hardest to beat in the competitive affair.
Trained by leading conditioner Terry Gillett and to be ridden by his 2kg claiming daughter Dakota, Kangaroo Court was an impressive last-start winner on 23 November in an Average Benchmark (66) 1400m, beating home one of his rivals today, Flying Start, by two lengths, with Tintern Power, a leading chance in the last today, third. Gillett jnr was also aboard that day, as she has been for the horse’s only three starts in the Red Centre since relocating from Victoria. Although only a three-race winner, the 5yo is lightly raced, having had just 14 starts, and appears to have plenty of upside. He takes on some decent opposition here but with just 54kg to carry, he looks a leading light to continue his winning form.
Hardest to beat again appears to be Flying Start, who although racing consistently, is finding it difficult to return to the winner’s circle. A former well-performed 3yo – he won a race during the Darwin Cup Carnival during that season – he has finished second at his two most recent outings, behind Princess Pancakes and Kangaroo Court, and both over this 1400m journey at which he has yet to taste success from six attempts. Senior rider Paul Denton goes on this time and although jumping from the outside gate, he promises to again run well for his connections.
Topweight Great Buy, a stablemate of Kangaroo Court, resumed from an almost six-month break with a third placing, albeit well beaten, behind O’Tycoon and Flying Yishu on 23 Noveamber. That was over 1200m and the extra 200m here, with natural improvement, should be to his liking – he has three wins and five placings at the trip – and senior rider Stan Tsaikos, who knows him well, takes the reins.
Flying Yishu, like his stablemate Flying Start, is a consistent galloper, with two wins and a second at his last three starts. He won twice during October, beating home Hurn Court on 6 October before repeating the dose and downing O’Tycoon narrowly three weeks later. O’Tycoon turned the tables on Flying Yishu when they last clashed on 23 November, the margin between the pair some 6.5 lengths. That said, 1400m rather than the 1200m Flying Yishu contested last time should be up his alley, with two wins and two placings at the trip previously.
Valley Prince can never be left out of calculations, the 12-race winner and four times successful at this trip coming back from a last-start 1600m victory to this 1400m. He may have only won a 0-64 event last time out, but he has competed in higher grades for the majority of his career and is a strong third stringer for Gillett behind stablemates Kangaroo Court and Great Buy.
Darci Diva completes the six-horse line-up, and Barry Cooke’s mare has yet to salute the judge in four starts in the Red Centre. However, she did finish a close-up third two starts back behind Princess Pancakes and Flying Start, and if she can bring that form today, could get some of it.
Gillett senior could be in for a good day today, as apart from his three contenders in the feature, he has Illusive Star, unlucky at her last start, engaged in the day’s opener, and as mentioned earlier, Tintern Power, an excellent third last time out in far stronger grade, will represent him in the last of the day. Both look to have found winnable races.
The weather in the Red Centre has been mainly fine this week, but there was a heavy burst of rain earlier in the week and there are a few showers forecast for today. The official forecast reads: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to north westerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning. The temperature is forecast to reach 37 degrees during the day, with an overnight low of 25 degrees, while there is a 60% chance of 0-10mm of rain.
The first on the seven-race card gets underway at 1.33pm (NT time), which is 3.03pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 5.20pm (NT time), or 6.50pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 6 ILLUSIVE STARLooked unlucky not to have finished closer when third, beaten 2.4 lengths, behind Get Out Mick here over 1100m on 23 November. The extra 100m here will suit in this 0-58 and Sonja Logan, who was aboard last time, retains the mount. Drawn to get a nice run in transit and stable in fine form of late. Can pick up her first win in the Red Centre at her fifth start.
R4 # 1 RISING FIREFinds it hard to win, having just two victories from 27 starts. However, has performed well in better fields than this and first-up fifth here behind the smart O’Tycoon in BM76 grade was a strong pointer to success in this class two 1400m. Won during the Carnival in Darwin this year and has the services of Raymond Vigar and the inside draw. Looks a winnable race for the son of Headwater.
R7 # 3 TINTERN POWERDropping back significantly in grade from his last-start third to stablemate Kangaroo Court over 1400m on 23 November. That was an Average Benchmark affair, this is a BM54, and the extra 200m this time should be very much to his liking. Dakota Gillett’s 2kg apprentice claim brings him in exceedingly well in this seven-horse field, and looks a good bet in the last of the day.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 6, 4, 3, 1RACE 2 – 1, 6, 2, 5RACE 3 – 3, 8, 1, 2RACE 4 – 1, 2, 4, 6RACE 5 – 5, 1, 2, 3RACE 6 – 5, 3, 1, 2RACE 7 – 3, 2, 1, 7
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