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2015 Darwin Cup: Preview and full tips

Roar Guru
3rd August, 2015
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Roar Guru
3rd August, 2015
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1294 Reads

The Darwin Cup (2000m) is the biggest event up in the Northern Territory and the track always attracts a big crowd of race goers, punters, and is reportedly a great day for all involved. Let’s take a look at the field assembled for the race at 6:05pm this evening.

Darwin Cup Field – Race 9 – 6:05pm.

1. Gris Caro
2. Travolta
3. Lightinthenite
4. Bolton
5. Payteevee
6. The Ruffian
7. Pretty Blonde
8. Whistle Stop – Scratched
9. Post D’France
10. Royal Request
11. Proverb
12. Flying Tormenta – Scratched
13. Kayno
14. Storm Approach
15. Saturday Sorcerer – Scratched

Lightinthenite trained by Darwin’s premier trainer Gary Clarke looks the horse to beat in this year’s Darwin Cup (2000m) with 20,000 people expecting to pack out the Fannie Bay racecourse.

Lightinthenite has had three starts at the track for one win and a second placing. He has a good record since moving to Darwin from Sydney and if you can remember last year he actually finished second in the 2014 edition of the Darwin Cup.

The gap between first and second in that race was barely a nose and with Hugh Bowman on board today he has to go to the top of the selections and at $2.50 he seems a fair quote.

I’m also interested in Clarke’s other starter in the Cup in Storm Approach who is a super consistent runner that hasn’t been out of the quinella in five races this preparation. He only has to carry 54kgs which is a huge weight relief from his last start win where he carried 61kgs, his current quote is $17 which could be a bit of value.

My only query is that he hasn’t placed over the distance.

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Royal Request has five wins at the track from ten starts and simply must be considered with just 54kgs on his back. He has won his last two starts at Darwin and he goes up in weight slightly from those victories.

This will be much tougher and one factor going against him is he won’t get the claim from Raymond Vigar. Currently a $6 quote and one that should be included in the multiples.

Gris Caro is an outstanding runner at this distance with five wins and three second placings from ten starts over the distance. Unfortunately he hasn’t had to carry this sort of weight previously but he is racing in a much easier grade than previously.

He is a good first up horse with one win and two placings from five starts and if he can carry the 61.5kgs he is a great price at $14, but I still have my doubts.

Gai Waterhouse had a good chance with Travolta in this race. Forget his first start on the track over the 1600m distance where he finished 7th where he carried a mountain of weight with 63.5kgs on his back.

Has one win and two placings over this distance so he is a consistent runner over the distance.

There’s a massive question mark over his form, however, with Travolta being unplaced in his last ten starts. You will have to take him on trust and at $10 he is a little too short for me, but could sneak a place.

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The Ruffian has a good record at the distance but recent form is quite concerning. However you must respect his record at the track and distance, but like Travolta I wouldn’t be taking $9 odds based on form.

Of the rest Post D’France could possibly sneak a place but I don’t think a win based on his form in Darwin is possible.

Brent Ford’s selections

1. Lightinthenite 2. Storm Approach 3. Royal Request 4. Gris Caro

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