We’re off to the top end on Monday for one of the best days of Australian racing – Darwin Cup Day!
The famed Fannie Bay dirt will feature ten talent-rich contests this year, and you can find my complete 2022 Darwin Cup Day Tips below.
Global Wonder has been outstanding this time in, and he can win the first on Darwin Cup Day.
The Hinchinbrook gelding has found a real home on the Darwin dirt, and was a dominant winner in two of three back.
He steps out this week in peak order and can hopefully kick us off on a winning note.
I think that leading NT horseman Gary Clarke can and will have another huge Darwin Cup Day, and Akoni looks the one to beat in Race 2.
Akoni has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting, finishing second in his first start for Clarke here last month before breaking his maiden in bullish fashion last time out.
This is harder, but it looks the next logical step and the horse has plenty of upside.
I think that the third can and will also fall to the Clarke stable, and Rising Sphere can make it two in a row.
The former Stokes-trained galloper clearly needed his first run on the dirt to tune-up, but he responded with an utterly dominant performances last time out, greeting the judge nearly seven lengths ahead of his rivals.
Fitter third-up, I think he’ll only be better.
We have to wait until Race 4 for a tip that isn’t from the Gary Clarke stable, and Chris Nash has a really good one on his hands with Ideas Man.
Ideas Man returns some nice efforts earlier in his career under the care of David Jolly, and after only just missing in his first start back this time, he’s recorded three-consecutive victories.
This has been his major target since resuming and he will take plenty of beating.
I was a big fan of Mangione while he was under the care of Chris Waller, and I think he can strike for Kerry Petrick in the top end on Monday.
Mangione has picked off several nice metro races throughout his career, and he has improved with each of his four starts on the dirt since resuming this time, filling the minors over a mile here last time.
He’s rock-hard fit and I don’t think he’ll be offered a better opportunity to win in Darwin.
Wolfburn can win Race 6.
The Snitzel gelding raced well for the Bjorn Baker yard in New South Wales earlier this year, but he is another who has gone to another level under the care of Clarke.
He has had four starts in Darwin for two wins and a close-up second placing, and a repeat of his last-start performance for second in the NT Derby would see him winning this.
Barragunda didn’t show a lot at his first run back this time, but he is a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with one under his belt, and he looks a live chance in this contest.
The I Am Invincible gelding found form around some decent gallopers in Victoria last time in, but was a little flash first-up.
We know how good he can be at his best, and we can have an each-way play at the price.
Another race, another Gary Clarke runner that rates as a key winning chance.
Autocratic has continued to improve with each of his three starts this preparation and looked to be at his very best when giving his rivals windburn at this track and trip, last time out.
He’s another who steps out on Monday in peak order and with appropriate luck in running, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Lady Whistledown was nothing short of outstanding here in Darwin last time out, and a repeat of that performance will see her winning the penultimate race on Darwin Cup Day.
The Unencumbered filly has been up and racing for some time, but she really has relished the move north, and filled the minors at her first run in the top end before dominating last time out.
She gets into this race well under the conditions and it looks the next logical step for her.
It’s one of the highlights of the Australian racing calendar every year and we’re set for another exciting edition of the Darwin Cup.
I’ve put Playoffs on top, but you can find my full race preview and complete 2022 Darwin Cup Tips RIGHT HERE.