Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Northern Territory · Saturday 9 May 2026
Our top pick won 1 of 6 races at Darwin. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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Ankle Rolex comes off a dominant last-start win at this track and distance, showing excellent form with two wins from his last three starts. His strong track record (8 wins from 37 starts) and proven ability at 1300m make him the standout despite the class rise and top weight.
Recent third placing and strong jockey booking suggest connections are confident, though the lack of wins at this distance is concerning.
Straya Pride gets the crucial barrier 1 advantage at this draw-sensitive track and has shown consistent placing form recently.
The slight class rise is manageable given his previous higher-level experience, and the strong jockey/trainer combination adds appeal despite the poor last start.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Ankle Rolex | 5 | Billy Cray | Patrick Johnston | 61kg | $2.50 |
| 2nd | 5 | Straya Pride | 1 | Aaron Sweeney | G Clarke | 58.5kg | $3.40 |
| 3rd | 6 | I''m A Dreamer | 3 | Deborah Barton | Ms T Halter | 55kg | $3.20 |
| 4th | 2 | Hell And Back | 4 | Jarrod Todd | Chris Pollard | 60.5kg | $13.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Valkur | 6 | Hannah Le Blanc | Chris Pollard | 55kg | $51.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Buades | 2 | Wayne Davis | Philip Cole | 59kg | $9.50 |
| Scr | 4 | Carat Time | 2 | Jason Manning | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Roc De Russian | 3 | Chris Pollard | 55kg |
Rising Water brings excellent consistency with four straight placings and proven Fannie Bay form. The Sweeney/Shiers combination is effective and barrier 3 suits perfectly. While lacking a killer blow, his reliability makes him a strong each-way chance.
The weight drop and strong recent form make her a genuine chance despite the class rise.
Galaxy General offers value as a proven track performer dropping significantly in class.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | No I''m Not | 4 | Deborah Barton | Chris Pollard | 54.5kg | $7.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Southampton Flare | 5 | Raymond Vigar | Chloe Baxter | 60.5kg | $4.60 |
| 3rd | 1 | Galaxy General | 1 | Jarrod Todd | G Clarke | 61kg | $2.70 |
| 4th | 5 | The Albion | 2 | Jessica Booth | Peter Stennett | 54.5kg | $17.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Rising Water | 3 | Aaron Sweeney | Paul Shiers | 55.5kg | $3.40 |
| 6th | 4 | July | 6 | Vanessa Arnott | Chris Pollard | 58.5kg | $15.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Barocco Bar | 7 | Billy Cray | Patrick Johnston | 59kg | $12.00 |
Polarising presents as the most reliable winning chance based on recent form and connections. Last start winner at this track with strong jockey combination (40% strike rate). Drawn ideally in barrier 2 for the expected fast tempo. While stepping up in class, the improving form trend and track familiarity provide confidence.
Second up positioning is ideal, and the inside barrier provides tactical advantage. Recent second at this track confirms current fitness levels, though consistency remains a concern.
Brazen Bon brings strong first up credentials and excellent track familiarity. The addition of pads suggests stable confidence, and historical performance at this venue is impressive. However, the lengthy spell and poor last start create some doubt.
Villa Royale represents value based on exceptional track record and strong connections. The light weight and trainer/jockey combination provide appeal, though first up concerns and class rise create risk.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Crazy Brave | 1 | Deborah Barton | Paul Shiers | 56kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 5 | Villa Royale | 5 | Aaron Sweeney | G Clarke | 55kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 2 | Brazen Bon | 4 | Vanessa Arnott | Jason Manning | 58.5kg | $4.40 |
| 4th | 4 | Polarising | 2 | Hannah Le Blanc | Tommy Logan | 56.5kg | $4.20 |
| 5th | 1 | Hennessy Lad | 3 | Jarrod Todd | G Clarke | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
Devils Delight is the standout selection based on his exceptional Fannie Bay record (6 wins from 14 starts) and proven ability at this distance (4 wins from 8 starts). Despite the lengthy spell, his first-up record and class edge make him the most likely winner.
His recent form is solid with a close second at this track, and the excellent barrier draw suits Fannie Bay's bias. However, the significant class rise and poor second-up record are concerns.
His first-up record is encouraging, and he has proven ability at this track and distance. The main concerns are fitness after 84 days off and jockey form.
Atlantic Ocean offers value based on recent winning form and the excellent barrier draw. While his distance record is concerning, the class drop and strong connections provide hope. The barrier 1 position is crucial at Fannie Bay and may overcome his distance limitations.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Field Of Flutes | 5 | Jarrod Todd | G Clarke | 59kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 1 | Devils Delight | 3 | Aaron Sweeney | G Clarke | 59.5kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Awash | 4 | Jessica Booth | G Clarke | 54kg | $12.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Orion The Hunter | 2 | Wayne Davis | Jason Manning | 55.5kg | $2.90 |
| 5th | 3 | Atlantic Ocean | 1 | Deborah Barton | Paul Shiers | 55kg | $3.50 |
Lady Fireball gets the crucial barrier 1 advantage at draw-sensitive Fannie Bay.
Good Onya Darl brings the most race experience and has shown strong recent form at Fannie Bay with a third last start. While the barrier isn't ideal, her experience and current form make her a strong winning chance.
The good barrier draw and in-form jockey are positives, while the light weight provides an advantage. Limited experience is a concern, but the potential is there for improvement second-up.
The significant gear changes including first-time visors suggest the stable expects improvement. Jockey Arnott has a strong record at Fannie Bay, and the combination with trainer Manning has been profitable.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Good Onya Darl | 5 | Billy Cray | Patrick Johnston | 57kg | $2.35 |
| 2nd | 1 | Rivers Of Babylon | 2 | Wayne Davis | Rhonda Cole | 58.5kg | $3.40 |
| 3rd | 2 | Tenacious Zeus | 4 | Vanessa Arnott | Jason Manning | 58.5kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 6 | Lady Fireball | 1 | Aaron Sweeney | Chris Pollard | 56.5kg | $3.70 |
| 5th | 3 | Western Miner | 3 | Deborah Barton | Chris Pollard | 56.5kg | $13.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Aqua Blue | 3 | Chris Pollard | 56.5kg |
Tigers Roar brings the strongest recent form into this contest with two wins from his last three starts, including a dominant last-start victory. His excellent track record at Fannie Bay (2 wins from 6 starts) and proven ability at this distance make him the standout selection despite the wide barrier draw.
Viaconi comes off a last-start win and has shown consistent improvement. His good track and distance record, combined with an in-form jockey and favorable barrier draw, makes him a strong threat despite the class rise.
Self Serve showed good improvement first-up and typically runs well second-up. The weight relief and improving form trend make her a solid each-way chance despite limited track experience.
Miami Vice offers value based on his excellent track and distance record.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Runaway Tycoon | 4 | Jarrod Todd | Ella Clarke | 60kg | $7.00 |
| 2nd | 5 | Kalimna Views | 8 | Jessica Booth | Philip Cole | 55.5kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 1 | Miami Vice | 1 | Wayne Davis | Rhonda Cole | 60kg | $11.00 |
| 4th | 8 | Self Serve | 6 | Hannah Le Blanc | Tommy Logan | 56kg | $7.50 |
| 5th | 7 | Viaconi | 3 | Deborah Barton | Chloe Baxter | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
| 6th | 4 | Damo Dayz | 5 | Paul Shiers | Paul Shiers | 59kg | $8.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Miss Black Diamond | 2 | Billy Cray | Tommy Logan | 58.5kg | $19.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Tigers Roar | 7 | Raymond Vigar | Ms T Halter | 60kg | $2.20 |
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