A race to just make field for Guineas

THE Darwin Cup Carnival gets in full swing tomorrow with the running of the Darwin Guineas.

2011 Dunkeld Races, Royal Mail Hotel William Thompson Dunkeld Cup winner Andrew Mallyon on horse - |Abitofado|, #1

THE Darwin Cup Carnival gets in full swing tomorrow with the running of the Darwin Guineas.

More than 26 horses have nominated for the $71,500 feature race for three-year-olds over 1600m.

That high number means the Darwin Turf Club has brought in an eighth race — a consolation race for those who did not qualify.

The competitive Guineas field features four runners from the stable of Darwin’s leading trainer, Gary Clarke.

Relay, trained by Ken Rogerson in Alice Springs, and ridden by Jan Cameron is one of two exempt runners in the 12-horse field.

The other is Chris Pollard’s Watch This Space (Felicia Bergstrand).

Top chances Gravitational (Paul Shiers) and Storm Approach (Richie Oakford) are from the Clarke stable.

Leading the interstate hopes will be the Neil Dyer-trained Royal Request, who impressed last start.

A wide barrier draw (13) may be a problem but Jarrod Todd has the ride and will be keen to find cover early.

The unknown quantity could be Slew Left (Wayne Davis) from Michael Templeton stables in country Victoria.

Another first starter at Fannie Bay is the Kerry Petrick-trained Kayno (Paul Denton).

Little Red Devil, trained by Stephen Brown and with Victorian jockey Andrew Mallyon — who had two winners in Darwin last Saturday — in the saddle, is expected to be competitive.

The stake money to qualify for a place in the Guineas field this year is significantly higher than in previous years.

Only seven were paid up for race two on the card, the Ten Darwin Welter over 1100m.

Alice Springs trainer Lisa Lefoe has one runner for the day in this race with Pioneer Sprint winner Seal No More (Kim Gladwin).

The Neil Dyer-trained Action Again (Jarrod Todd) and Stephen Brown’s Duke of Cornwall (Andrew Mallyon) were one-two in last year’s Palmerston Sprint while Dreaming of Nepal (Paul Shiers) is also expected to figure prominently.

The Big Steel (Andrew Mallyon) will make his first appearance back in Darwin this campaign in race three over a mile.

Spartan Eagle, from the Bob Richards camp, trialled well on Tuesday and will provoke plenty of interest with Scott Hillebrand on board.