Darwin Cup Carnival back on track and ready to race this weekend after Top End lockdown lifted

The Darwin Cup Carnival is back on track, and ready to race this weekend, following a tumultuous week of Covid lockdown restrictions.

The Darwin Cup Carnival is back on track, and ready to race this weekend, following a tumultuous week of Covid lockdown restrictions. Picture: Che Chorley

THE Darwin Cup Carnival is back on track and ready to race this weekend following a tumultuous week of Covid restrictions.

The first race meet will have 10 races on the card and will be headlined by the $70,000 Ladbrokes Darwin Guineas.

Despite being allowed to race, personnel and patrons will still be made to comply with post lockdown restrictions, including the wearing of masks.

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TRNT chief executive Andrew O’Toole said the racing community were rapt they would be able to race after an uncertain week.

“We’re rapt that we get the chance to race. We will embrace the day while following the advice given to us,” O’Toole said.

“Given the fact that we’ve raced before with restrictions in place, and the rest of the country has also done so, we were always hopeful that we could go around this time.

“Guineas is always a big day for us and there’s a number of chances in that feature race with the whole field showing strong form.

“The rest of Carnival is also looking solid. We’ve got over 270 horses coming and we have a good many visitors from all over the country.”

Also among the races will be the $25,000 TAB ROANT Gold Cup, which was postponed after a heavy jockey fall resulting in three injured jockeys on June 26.

The Darwin Cup Carnival will take place through June with the prestigous Darwin Cup scheduled for August 2.