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Andrew O’Toole’s Saturday best at Darwin (01/08)
Andrew O’Toole • August 1st, 2026 12:00 pm
Day 7 of the 2026 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival, bet365 Palmerston Sprint Day, comes up for decision today, and a tremendous field of short-course combatants will do battle over the 1200m in the feature. A total of 83 horses have accepted for the fixture, but as usual at this time of year, expect some scratchings with horses entered to race last Wednesday as well as Cup Day on Monday. However, there is enough strength in the size of the fields that the meeting should still be a highlight of the Carnival.
The $150,000 bet365 Palmerston Sprint has attracted a capacity line-up, with 13 horses accepting for the 1200m event, although emergency Anson Bay was down to run in the Dabble Cup on Wednesday so may not back up here. With the exception of Wild Beau (13), most of the leading fancies have drawn fairly well, and from barrier 8, it is hard to go past the track record holder for the distance, Balastier, who smashed the clock here a fortnight ago in the WFA event over the same trip.
Trained by Chloe Baxter, who is enjoying another good Carnival, Balastier has had just the two Top End starts and the son of Brazen Beau, after winning narrowly first-up on 4 July, really showed what he could do over today’s trip on 18 July with a devastating display of sustained speed. He ran his first 600m in a sizzling 32.70s from a standing start, and was able to sustain the gallop, his last 600m taking 34.09s to stop the clock at a scarcely believable 1:06.79s.
He lowered the previous track record, held by Canton Kid, by .30s, a huge margin, and it must also be remembered that rider Jason Lyon was fairly quiet in the saddle over the last 100m. Had he been tested, he could well have run even quicker. And another point to bear in mind is he will carry the minimum of 54kg, 4.5kg less than he won with last time.
Balastier is only lightly-raced – today will be just his 14th career outing – and the former Victorian-trained 5yo has an imposing record already of seven wins. He has obviously taken to the sand and oil-based surface of the Top End with aplomb, but like all his rivals, he will need a clean getaway in the speed battle to show his dazzling turn of foot. But he has been first out on both his starts in Darwin and there is no reason to suggest that will change today. He is certainly the horse to beat.
Topweight Dakota Lee, although she is a noted weight carrier, will have to be at her absolute best with 63kg, 9kg more than Balastier and 5kg more than Boldinho, runner-up to her in the Pioneer Sprint, will be asked to carry. The star mare is also dropping back in trip from the 1600m of the Chief Minister’s Cup, in which she finished a tremendous second to Magic Defense, and her previous start was a winning effort in the 1300m ROANT Gold Cup.
That said, she is a marvel, with 15 wins, two seconds and a third from just 19 career starts, and she has a tremendous association with Dakota Gillett, who will again have the steer on the daughter of Kuroshio, who turns eight today. Trainer Terry Gillett has done a tremendous job with the mare, who would be a very popular winner should she salute today.
Boldinho has been a model of consistency since coming to Darwin just over 12 months ago, with six wins from just 11 starts, and he was a most unlucky fifth in last year’s Palmerston behind three-time winner Early Crow, beaten just 2.3 lengths. He has the ace draw this time which ironically may not be the best gate for him, as he is probably better over 1300m than 1200m and will have to muster from the outset to hold his place. However, he is prepared by the five-time Palmerston winning trainer Gary Clarke who knows a thing or two about winning the Territory’s No 1 sprint.
Runaway Tycoon, one of three in the event trained by Ella Clarke who will also be represented by Cinque Torri and Wild Beau, is a young horse on the up and from a good gate of six, he should be in the mix for a long way. He is facing his biggest test today for sure but has been most impressive winning at his last three starts, twice over 1100m and once over 1200m. He adds further to the puzzle.
Cinque Torri chased hard to finish second to Balastier last time out and is in good form, but has gate 12 to overcome. Wild Beau has drawn 13, and will obviously come in to the outside gate at the 12-runner capacity start. He is flying at present but up against this sort of opposition, he will need plenty of luck in running.
Early Crow will be looking to extend his record-breaking Palmerston record of three consecutive wins, and although now a 9yo, he seems to always turn up on this day. He has drawn well in barrier two and Dick Leech’s fine performer will have the services of Jade Hampson, who is having a great Carnival and won the Guineas-Derby double for Leech aboard Leveraged Buyout.
Field Of Flutes and Devils Delight, the second and third seeds of the Gary Clarke stable, are capable of bold showings, as is Arizona Activist, the second of the Baxter runners. He will be ridden by Richard Bensley and has shown plenty in his three starts in the Territory, with a win, a second and a fourth after missing the jump his NT record.
Bon’s Pride, second in this event last year, is yet another with claims, although he has a wide draw of 11 to contend with. However, he will be ridden again by Paul Shiers, who guided him to his career highlight in this race 12 months ago.
A tremendous field and a great race in store – bring it on!!
The weather in Darwin this week continues to be perfect Dry Season weather, with lovely days and cooler nights. The official forecast for today reads: Sunny. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to reach 32 degrees, while it will be 20 degrees overnight. There is just a 5% chance of any rain.
The first race on the seven-race card gets underway at 12.57pm (NT time), which is 1.27pm on the eastern seaboard, while the last is timed to go at 4.33pm (NT time), or 5.03pm in New South Wales and Victoria.
BEST BETS
R1 # 2 CAPITOL HILL
Went a beauty first-up from an injured enforced break when second to Fury here last Saturday. Stays at the 1600m again and will no doubt be improved for that fresh effort. Jason Lyon has the mount and even though drawn out a little, he should be able to get a good run in transit and last year’s NT Derby winner should be very strong late. Hard to beat.
R3 # 3 GREAT BUY
Top run for fourth, albeit beaten almost ten lengths, behind Balastier in a track record time for 1200m on 18 July. The 1300m here should be more suitable for the Terry Gillett-trained chestnut, who turns ten today. He has gone two top races during the Carnival to date, and this Benchmark 76 affair should be right up his alley. Dakota has the mount for her father and a bold showing is expected.
R7 # 3 BALASTIER
Smashed the clock and broke his rivals’ hearts with a demolition job in the weight-for-age 1200m here a fortnight ago. Actually won with something in hand in a staggering 1:06.79, and although out a little in barrier eight, it is hard to see him being headed off, such is his devastating speed from the gates. Drops 4.5kg in weight for this assignment and just looks the winner.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – 2, 1, 7, 6RACE 2 – 1, 3, 6, 8RACE 3 – 3, 5, 10, 9RACE 4 – 10, 7, 2, 5RACE 5 – 4, 6, 1, 3RACE 6 – 7, 1, 2, 4RACE 7 – 3, 1, 2, 12
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