Welcome up north punters! The Top End’s headline racing carnival hits fever pitch with a cracking 10-race card on Monday and Ladbrokes are here with our full 2026 Darwin Cup Day preview, tips and best bets.
The dust is ready to fly at the iconic Fannie Bay dirt track from dawn till dusk and the headline act of the Great Northern Carnival is of course the Darwin Cup.
Won by a host of nice stayers over the years including two-time champions Ihtsahymn and Hadouken, there’s plenty of market action on this year’s showdown as well as all the support acts.
The dirt’s been primed, the locals are no doubt fired up and with value galore for the Top End’s biggest racing party it’s time to dive into our expert Darwin Cup Day selections below.
RIVKIN (6) is one of three carrying 60kg in the first, but he’ll carry it no issues.
Moved from NSW to Peter Stennett locally ahead of his latest when running sixth to Runaway Tycoon over 1100m here on July 18 with 61kg.
That run was better than it reads despite the big margin, he’ll take a lot of benefit out of it, and I like him up to the six furlongs second-up.
Should improve enough to trouble this small line-up of out of form rivals.
| 3. Rivkin (6) J: Paul Shiers 60kg 552×6T: Peter Stennett | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months 6th of 9 at this track 0 – 70 on July 18 over 1100m, 7 len behind Runaway Tycoon carrying 61kg at $18. Previously second-up 2nd of 8 at Walcha Lightninghcp 82 on February 6 over 1000m, neck behind Dune And Dusted with 58.5kg at $5. | |||
OCEAN’S JEN (11) is a grand old girl lining up in the second on Darwin Cup Day and, despite her years, she continues to show up and perform well.
The Andrew Perdon-trained daughter of Ocean Park looks to be building up to another victory to add to her 3.3 length romp home here over 1300m a month ago.
She’s had two runs since, the latest an improved effort on her eighth the start prior when only 1.6 lengths behind Copycat over 1100m with 59kg having done her best work late.
Back up to six furlongs suits as does coming back to 58.5kg with regular rider Aaron Sweeney sticking in the saddle.
Think she’ll go on with it now.
| 11. Ocean’s Jen (11) J: Aaron Sweeney 58.5kg x2184T: Andrew Perdon | |||
| At the latest run settled back and ran on when 4th of 8 at this track 0 – 58 on July 18 over 1100m, 1.5 len behind Copycat with 59kg at $4.60. The run before that 8th of 12 at this track F&M 0 – 70 on July 8 over 1300m, 9 len behind Rossanado with 55.5kg at $5. Working up to a win. | |||
LITTLEBOURKESTREET (9) chases back-to-back wins at the track and trip, and I expect this talented daughter of Ilovethiscity to do just that.
Since transferring up to the Top End, she’s been excellent, making her stable debut on July 8 to run 1.3 lengths second behind Auxiliary before a barnstorming six length demolition job over Down The Wicket on Wednesday.
She’s on the quick back-up with less than a week between runs, but I think she’ll relish that and why not strike while the iron’s hot?
Cops a penalty so needs to carry a bit of weight, but she’s going too good to look past for mine fit and firing.
| 5. Littlebourkestreet (9) J: Deborah Barton 58.5kg 20×21T: Paul Shiers | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 2nd of 8 at this track 0 – 66 on July 8 over 1100m, 1.3 len behind Auxiliary carrying 54.5kg at $3.70. Last start favourite; won by 6 len at this track 0 – 66 July 29 over 1100m defeating Down The Wicket carrying 55kg at $1.90. | |||
Plenty of livewire hopes coming off super consistent preps in this nice little sprint but have to side with WILD BEAU (5) who is better weighted than some of his other in-form rivals.
Ella Clarke’s Brazen Beau gelding is an outright Fannie Bay track specialist boasting an imposing eight-from-eleven record here that he looks a huge chance to add to on Monday.
Was out of form with the Oxlade stable in South Australia earlier in the season but has more than turned that around back north winning his last two on the trot in Darwin by a combined margin of over nine lengths.
Put 5.8 lengths on Real Valentia over this track and trip as the odds-on elect with 58.5kg in late June before going up to 1100m on July 8 to win again by another impressive gap on Fields Of Flutes.
Sticks on 56kg, should bounce out in the lead and has the form and fitness to go all-the-way and secure that hat-trick.
| 6. Wild Beau (5) J: Unknown 56kg x9911T: Ella Clarke | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently won by 3.5 len at this track Bmnt 78 July 8 over 1100m defeating Field Of Flutes carrying 56kg at $3.60. Before that won by 6 len at this track 0 – 76 June 27 over 1000m defeating Real Valentia carrying 58.5kg at $1.85. | |||
AGGRESSIVE (7) is a youngster on the improve who gets his chance to post win number two at his 14th start.
The Tagaloa gelding is now with Kerry Petrick locally and has run fourth in both his lead-up runs here for his new stable.
Should be nicely accustomed to the heat and dust now and, despite being winless from four previous runs at a mile, I don’t think he’s out of this.
Was at 50/1 at set weights against his own ago on July 18 over the 2050m when 3.4 lengths off Leveraged Buyout who is actually my Darwin Cup tip in the last.
I think that form will hold, love Robbie Dolan jumping on, and at his best he’s capable of taking this out if he can stay in touch from midfield.
| 6. Aggressive (7) J: Robbie Dolan 59.5kg 78744T: Kerry Petrick | |||
| Racing well recently. Most recently 4th of 12 at this track 3yo SW on July 18 over 2050m, 3.5 len behind Leveraged Buyout carrying 58kg at $41. The start before that 4th in a small field at this track 3yo 0 – 64 on July 4 over 1600m, 4.5 len behind Garrix with 57kg at $11. | |||
While I’m a touch wary of the experienced Ichiban in the sixth, FURY (5) is the stablemate in flying form who could be very hard to deny.
The son of Written Tycoon loves this course (9:3-2-2) and he’s a two-time winner from three goes over the 1600m here.
Only mile loss at the track was with 61kg when under a length behind Fields Of Courage in a Class 2 three starts ago.
Has won his two subsequent runs, firstly smashing The Accelator by a ridiculous 8.5 lengths with 59kg on July 18 and then handling a quick back-up to get the job done for the punters with a half-kilo more paying under $2.
Back to 56.5kg now and that makes him potentially the best weighted and rated horse on the card.
| 11. Fury (5) J: Zac Spain 56.5kg 24211T: Gary Clarke | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. At the latest run favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.3 len at this track 0 – 70 July 25 over 1600m defeating Capitol Hill carrying 59.5kg at $1.80. The race before that favourite; won by 8 len at this track 0 – 66 July 18 over 1600m defeating The Accelator with 59kg at $3.30. | |||
MONTJUIC MAGIC (3) is in outstanding form and gets every chance to continue her strong raid on D-Town in this year’s Magic Millions Top End Classic.
Robbie Griffiths sent her up here for the winter and she’s been a revelation for trainer Chloe Baxter winning two from three at Darwin and placing second in her other run.
She was huge on June 20 with 59kg winning over 1100m by 1.5 lengths before going down as the odds on favourite with excuses at her next.
Quick to atone, she relished a weight drop back to 54kg on July 18 and took out a BM76 over the six furlongs beating Auxiliary by a length.
Looks a strong form race, she’s hitting her peak now, presents fit, and I don’t see any issues stretching up to 1300m at this stage of her prep.
Back up to 57.5kg but still a very winnable weight to carry considering Auxiliary will lump 61kg in the same event, Jason Lyon is building a good rapport, and they’re drawn a dream in gate three.
| 5. Montjuic Magic (3) J: Jason Lyon 57.5kg 2×121T: Chloe Baxter | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.0 len at this track Bm76 July 18 over 1200m defeating Auxiliary with 54kg at $5.50. The start before that 2nd in a small field at this track 0 – 62 on July 4 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Galaxy General with 59kg at $1.95. | |||
STOMP’EM (8) carries a big weight (62kg) in this nice little handicap but I still have him on top based on his recent dominant form.
Kym Healy’s Sir Prancealot gelding has his 10th start on Monday chasing win number four, with the only query for mine being his drop back in distance.
He’s got a solid 1300m strike rate (3:1-0-2) including a powerhouse four length romp home here with 58kg over Rampazetto on July 18 but was strong over the mile last time out.
He carted 60kg at Fannie Bay to beat Hopeless Romantic by a good length, but if they’re not too sharp for him back in distance now he’ll be securing that hat-trick.
Quick turnaround off that July 29 effort, he’s in ripping condition, loves his home track with a 50% winning rate at Darwin from four runs and Jade Doyle sticks in the saddle.
If he handles the kilos, he’ll be handing the punters a win.
| 2. Stomp’Em (8) J: Jade Doyle 62kg 27211T: Kym Healy | |||
| Form hard to fault. Most recently favourite; won by 1.0 len at this track 0 – 62 July 29 over 1600m defeating Hopeless Romantic with 60kg at $2.45. The race before that favourite; won by 4 len at this track 0 – 62 July 18 over 1300m defeating Rampazetto with 58kg at $3.80. | |||
BOLLON (5) is in outstanding form ahead of his run in the penultimate event on Darwin Cup Day, and I really like the Gary Clarke-trained son of Super Seth to keep that going.
He’s yet to win over further than a mile but was so dominant here over the 1600m on July 11 when carting 60kg to an easy two length victory over Barocco Bar.
That was an atoning performance following his run prior when things didn’t go his way finishing well back as the beaten odds-on favourite.
Three of his past four runs have produced HUGE victories at a mile including an eight-length victory back in April and a six-length demolition job on May 26 when he easily handled a rise from 55.5kg to 60.5kg.
Looks very well placed here, great weight in on 58kg, Jarrod Todd sticks with, think he’ll get that 2050m victory now.
| 4. Bollon (5) J: Jarrod Todd 58kg 31151T: Gary Clarke | |||
| Most recently won by 2 len at this track 0 – 62 July 11 over 1600m defeating Barocco Bar carrying 60kg at $3.90. The race before that ran second last in a small field at this track 0 – 64 on June 20 over 1600m, 9 len behind Fields Of Courage carrying 60kg at $1.70. | |||
Where to look in this year’s outstanding Darwin Cup field, that is the question. It’s a wide-open affair with a heap of horses ready to hit the dirt off some strong lead-up form, but ultimately I’ve landed on the flying young gun LEVERAGED BUYOUT (9) to show his older rivals what he’s capable of.
Dick Leech’s Dundeel gelding is two-from-three at Fannie Bay and chases a hat-trick at the track having run enormously at his latest two against his own age.
On July 4 over the mile he stormed home by just shy of five lengths over Rivers Of Babylon before another last start victory up to the 2050m in another set weights clash for 3YOs when denying Crazy Town by a length as the odds on favourite.
Both times he carried 58kg to victory and he’ll be airborne right back to 54kg on Monday with talented apprentice Jade Hampson continuing a nice association with the up-and-comer.
Second in the Alice Springs Cup earlier in the winter, he denied Magic Defense that day and that’s been a strong form to follow into the Carnival.
Ticks plenty of boxes and is at an attractive price to go on with it here.
| 9. Leveraged Buyout (8) J: Jade Hampson 54kg 22511T: Dick Leech | |||
| Most recently favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.0 len at this track 3yo SW July 18 over 2050m defeating Crazy Town carrying 58kg at $1.65. The run before that favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 5 len at this track 3yo SW July 4 over 1600m defeating Rivers Of Babylon with 58kg at $3.50. | |||