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Barriers for the $175,000 Darwin Cup have been decided with race favourite The Ruffian drawing 5 as the three-year-old attempts to claim the NT Triple Crown.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Ruffian and Hawks Bay were quoted as first and second favourites respectively prior to barriers being decided this afternoon for Monday's Darwin Cup (2000m) at Fannie Bay Racecourse.
The pair will likely firm in betting following the barrier draw after each came up with favourable barriers.
Following wins in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and the $120,000 NT Derby (2000m) last start, the Ruffian is well placed to claim the NT Triple Crown on Monday with an ideal barrier of 5 aiding his chances.
Nearest rival Hawks Bay has been runner up in the Darwin Cup the past two seasons.
The Neil Dyer-trained runner encountered wide barriers on both these occasions however should get an ideal run from barrier 3 this year.
2008 winner Club Liquid has drawn wide in barrier 12 while single figure hopes Bolton (10) and Palmyra Boy (9) haven't fared much better on a track where wide barriers are considered a worse than usual disadvantage.
Race 9 - 5:30PM Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000 METRES)
Of $175,000.1st $115,500, 2nd $28,000, 3rd $12,250, 4th $9,625, 5th $6,125, 6th $3,500, Starter Subsidy $420Field Limit: 12 + 3 EM
No Horse - Trainer - Jockey - Barrier - Weight
1. HAWKS BAY Neil Dyer, Steven Arnold (3) 62kg
2. PALMYRA BOY Neil Dyer, Ms Jan Cameron (9) 57.5kg3. BLACKBRIAR Melinda Boothby, Paul Shiers (4) 55kg
4. NARATEL Phillip Stokes, Dom Tourneur (13) 53.5kg5. SPAKATAK Kevin Lamprecht, Carl Spry (14) 53.5kg
6. THE RUFFIAN Sheila Arnold, Kerrin McEvoy (5) 53.5kg7. CLUB LIQUID Dick Leech, Michael McDuff (12) 53kg
8. MONTEGO BAY Paula Trenwith, Scott Hillebrand (11) 53kg9. AGARKAR Michael Hickmott, Ms Libby Hopwood (a) (6) 53kg
10. GENERAL MAZERATTI Jason Manning, Ms Vanessa Arnott (2) 53kg11. ROBDON FLYER Ken Rogerson, Mr Colin Haddon (1) 53kg
12. VERY FAST Julien Welsh, Phillip Crich (8) 53kg13e. BOLTON (NZ) Stephen Brown, Paul Denton (10) 53kg
14e. LOUKOUMI Lisa Lefoe, (7) 53kg
