Weights released for Darwin Cup and Palmerston Sprint, indicating competitive fields likely in both events

Weights for the Darwin Cup and Palmerston Sprint have been released, giving punters an initial look at how the fields for the two biggest events of the Darwin Cup Carnival are shaping up ahead of barrier draw announcements later this week.

The 2020 Darwin Cup race, with winner Ihtsahymn ridden by jockey Peter Hall in the lead. Picture: Che Chorley

WEIGHTS for the Darwin Cup and Palmerston Sprint have been released, giving punters an initial look at how the fields for the two biggest events of the Darwin Cup Carnival are shaping up ahead of barrier draw announcements later this week.

For premier race the Darwin Cup, handicappers have given the two highest-graded horses – Neil Dyer’s Kaonic and Jason Manning’s Noir De Rue – with equal weights of 59kg, in what should make for a close competition if both horses are entered.

Other leading chances include Alice Springs Cup champion I Am The Fox, which made fifth in the proposed order with an assigned weight of 57.5kg, and Chief Minister’s Cup winner Highly Decorated, which has been listed sixth with 56kg.

Paghman, which ran second in both the 2020 Darwin Cup and 2021 Alice Springs Cup, has been listed in eighth spot and will carry 55kg if its team accepts.

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Heavenly Emperor (58kg) made third in the proposed order, while Danon Roman (57.5kg) has been placed fourth and Deception Game (56kg) seventh.

Reserve Street, Casino Seventeen, Trident and Lotion make up the rest of the forecast top 12, all carrying 54kg.

For the Palmerston Sprint, Gary Clarke’s two time NT horse of the year winner The Captain has been given 62kg to carry – 1.5kg more than any other horse in the field.

Smuggling, which won the Pioneer Sprint – the Territory’s second biggest sprint event – earlier this year, has been given 60.5kg while Eastwood is tipped to carry 58kg.

Every other nominated horse will carry 54kg if they enter.

Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive Andrew O’Toole said while the fields for both events were not yet finalised, the weight order lists showed both races were set to be competitive.

“There’s a number of chances in both races,” he said.

“There’s quite a bit of depth in both.”

Noir De Rue will carry 59kg if it competes in the Darwin Cup. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

Noir De Rue trainer Manning, who also has a horse – Niewand – expected to race in the Palmerston Sprint, said he was pleased with the weights assigned to his horses.

“When you get a high rated horse you’re never sure where they’re going to start at the top, so we’re happy with (Noir De Rue’s) weight at 59kg,” he said.

“He’ll probably meet a couple of the lower weighted horses on their way through – I Am The Fox and Highly Decorated – because he’s a bit better off with the weights.

“At the Metric Mile he was 6kg heavier than Highly Decorated and this time he’s only 3kg more.”

The weight order lists for the Darwin Cup and Palmerston Sprint were released on Monday afternoon following the close of nominations a week earlier.

The barrier draws for the Sprint will be released on Wednesday and for the Darwin Cup on Thursday.