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In-form galloper The Ruffian can bring up a hat-trick of wins in Darwin today by adding the Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (race 9) at Fannie Bay.

The well-bred galloper has won the Darwin Guineas and Northern Territory Derby as his last couple of runs as a three-year-old and can kick off his four-year-old year with a win in today's 2000m feature.

The Ruffian, originally owned by Darley and prepared by Lee Freedman, has shown good ability but failed to measure up to lofty expectations.

After winning on debut as a juvenile he failed to break through again until Freedman managed to get him over the line again when sending him to Albury for the Albury Guineas earlier this year.

He followed that run with a three length seventh in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick before returning to Victoria and finishing fifth on a heavy track at Sandown.

After that run he was sold to connections in Darwin, including leading bookmaker Terry Lillis, to be prepared by Sheila Arnold.

He had his first start there over 1300m following a two month break and after carrying a big weight and racing on the speed battled away to finish a well held fifth.

Improving on the run and his first try on the all weather surface, he stepped up to a mile in the Darwin Guineas.

Ridden cold from barrier 10, he turned worse than midfield but ran on powerfully in the straight, cruising to a 4.5 length win over Baby Huey in a good form race.

He then raced over 2000m for the first time in the Northern Territory Derby.

Again ridden cold after drawing wide, he eased to the clear and was travelling sweetly on the bend, again running on hard and running away with a 2.5 length win.

There he carried 57kg as his last run as a three-year-old and is well placed as he meets the older horses this time, dropping to just a half kilo over the minimum at 53.5kg.

Kerrin McEvoy is in town for Cup day and has the ride, and a repeat of his last couple of runs should see him hard to hold out again.

Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer has settled in to Darwin on his annual trek north and has a couple of good chances in the race including the topweight Hawks Bay.

The gelding, now a seven-year-old, has campaigned in Darwin for the last two seasons and has finished runner-up in the Darwin Cup both times.

This year, he looked to be on target with a 1000m win at his first run there carrying 63.5kg before finishing third in the Roant Gold Cup over 1300m.

He then ran fifth in the Minister's Cup over a mile, carrying a big weight, before tackling the Metric Mile Handicap and winning with 63kg.

He is at his top now as he steps up to the Cup and to 2000m and drops in weight by a kilo. He does carry much more than last year, though.

At the track and trip he has run three times for a win in the NT Derby in 2009 before placing in the Cup each year since.

He deserves to break through in the race and will no doubt be in the finish again.

Stablemate Palmyra Boy has been racing in similar races to the topweight and is flying so with 57.5kg looks a huge chance.

After a break he scored in the Roant Gold Cup then also won the Minister's Cup over a mile.

In the Metric Mile Handicap his stablemate won on the day but this gelding raced on the speed and battled on well for third.

He drops a kilo today and although yet to win at the trip has a top record at the track.

Bolton looks ready to win after three runs form a break and has a nice weight, while Club Liquid, who led throughout to win this race in 2008, should give a sight again at odds.