The iconic sand-and-oil track of Fannie Bay is set to thunder once again as the 2025 Darwin Cup takes the spotlight this Monday, August 4.
A jewel in the crown of the Top End’s sporting and social calendar, Cup Day is more than just a race, it’s a vibrant celebration of Territory pride, colour, and community.
With a full field of contenders eyeing the $200,000 prize over 2050 metres, punters and racing fans are in for a gripping afternoon of high-stakes action and unpredictable twists.
This year’s Cup boasts a compelling mix of talent, with early favourites like Motorace, Hadouken, and Wolfburn already generating serious buzz.
I’ve done the form so you don’t have to. Read on for my top selections across all 10 races on the Darwin Cup Day card.
Devil’s Delight (4) will appreciate the drop in class after giving a sight before weakening late to finish 2.8 lengths fourth in an Open Handicap.
The son of Hellbent led from barrier to box two starts back when winning a similar strength race over 1100m here.
He’s at peak fitness and looks ready to rise to this distance which he won over there last preparation.
He’ll settle in a forward position and give some cheek in the first on Darwin Cup Day.
Rossanado (7) hasn’t run a bad race since arriving in the Northern Territory from Matt Laurie’s Victorian stable.
The Toronado mare broke her maiden status three starts back when letting down strongly to easily win by three lengths over 1300m here.
After finishing a close third two starts ago, she caught the eye in a much stronger race over this course and distance last start when storming home from the back to finish a neck second.
She’s at peak fitness and looks extremely well placed in this field.
Juice Box (6) proved too strong when having her first start for new trainer Tommy Logan three starts back over 1200m here.
The seven-year-old mare then gave a big sight over 1300m only to be run down on the line by Hell Fire Miss.
She was no match for the flying Wild Beau last start when dropping back to 1000m but she still ran well to finish 5.8 lengths second.
Sonja Logan can give her a great run on speed and should prove hard to hold out now she’s in prime physical condition.
The Lightning Plate looks likely to be robbed of its start attraction, Dakota Lee so I’m siding with Wild Beau (3).
The Ella Clarke-trained gelding has come back this preparation in fine style and is looking for his third win in a row.
He impressed last start over this course and distance when annihilating his rivals by 5.8 lengths in a strong showing of sustained speed.
His brilliant speed should see him lead comfortably and hopefully build a nice break on the field.
Faberge Tzar (1) has hit his straps and defeated a similar field last start so looks well placed to go back-to-back.
The Andrew Perdon-trained gelding let down powerfully over this course and distance to easily put Star Casino away in the straight and win by two lengths.
That was his third win from eight starts over the track and trip and he should enjoy a nice run.
He has plenty of weight to carry but the rise is relatively comparable to those he faced last start.
Besides one forgettable run, Stormfront (4) has been racing in great form since joining the Peter Robl stable this preparation.
Three starts ago the son of Frosted proved far too strong when winning over this course and distance by 2.5 lengths with third a whopping 9.8 lengths away.
He had no luck two starts ago when caught wide but bounced back in a big way last week when easily winning over 1300m here where he had the measure of some of the same horses he faces in this feature.
Champion jockey Blake Shinn will ride for his good mate Robl.
Throw At Da Stumps (1) endured a tough run when resuming last start over 1200m here.
The son of Rich Enuff was involved in a three-way battle for the lead, which was frankly ludicrous, but to his credit he fought on best of the mad leaders to finish two lengths third.
That run will have brought him on nicely and he has won and run well second-up in the past.
He finished a close fourth after racing wide in this race last year but draws to get a much better run for Sonja Logan.
Do yourself a favour and watch the replay of Miami Baby (3) winning last start over 1200m here as the way he did it is absolutely rude!
The Chloe Baxter-trained gelding settled last before producing an insane turn of foot to charge home and claim a narrow victory.
That followed a come from behind win over 1100m.
He’ll appreciate the rise in distance and will settle back from the outside gate, which he would have done anyway.
Iknowhatyouredoing (2) has been racing in super form and is looking for his third win in a row.
Two starts back the Kevin Lamprecht-trained gelding bolted in by four lengths before producing an eye-catching finish from the back to win over 1600m here last start.
He’s four weeks between runs but will have been set for this race given he won last year’s edition easily by 3.3 lengths.
The wide draw isn’t ideal, but he has a get back and run on style.
Hadouken (3) looks well placed to add his name to the history book as a multiple Darwin Cup winner when he looks to win back-to-back titles.
The Peter Robl-trained gelding worried his supporters first-up when finishing last by 10.4 lengths, but he disliked the kickback so can be forgiven.
That was just his first defeat in five starts at the track and he bounced back to form last start when sitting three-wide the trip and proving too strong when winning the Chief Minister’s Cup over a mile.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and should enjoy a beautiful run for Blake Shinn.