A capacity field has been taken for this afternoon’s 2018 Darwin Cup (2000m) and we are set for another exciting edition of the highly-anticipated feature race at Fannie Bay.
Zahspeed has shown a love for the dirt since arriving in the top end and has continued to firm into out $2.60 favouritism in 2018 Darwin Cup betting.
Formerly saddled by a number of notable trainers including Rob Heathcote in Brisbane most recently, Zahspeed has shown plenty of ability throughout his entire racing career so far but will take particularly good condition into the Darwin Cup.
The Speed ‘N’ Power gelding tuned up with a credible performance for seventh in the Roant Gold Cup (1300m) on June 30th, in which he was entitled to weaken late, but responded with an impressive and dominant win in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) last time out.
The step up in trip looks ideal and he should be able to navigate to a position on-pace with relative ease from an inside draw.
Lieder has terrific form in Darwin and the six-year-old has continued to receive the lion’s share of interest in 2018 Darwin Cup betting; firming from an opening quote of $6 into $4.40 second-favouritism.
Lieder ran third in this race last year and resumed from a freshen-up in June this year for third in a smart BM76 race over 1300m here in Darwin on June 23rd.
He took plenty of benefit into his second-up for third at a mile and has continued to enjoy an increase in trip, having hit the line well for fourth in the Buntine Handicap (1900m) a fortnight ago.
He’s ready to peak in the Darwin Cup, he’s drawn ideally in barrier 4 and with in-form hoop Jamie Kah in the saddle, he can fight his way into the finish.
The Darwin Cup field is rich with the usual suspects and there is a case to be made for most acceptors, including Royal Request ($14), Folk Tales ($8.50) and Saturday Sorcerer ($31).
Royal Request has raced in every Darwin Cup since 2014 and broke through for his first win in the feature race last year. He’s found typically competitive form this time and was last seen finishing off well for fourth in the Metric Mile (1600m).
Folk Tales has returned for his second Darwin campaign in 2018 and resumed this time for a smart win over 1300m before finishing fifth in the Chief Minister’s Cup most-recently.
Saturday Sorcerer has amassed seven wins and a further twenty-one minors throughout his 58 career starts and always runs well in the Darwin Cup; boxing on to finish second behind Royal Request in the most-recent edition of the race.