Day 7 of the Darwin Cup Carnival gets underway this Saturday with a stacked seven-race program.

The Palmerston Sprint (1200m) is the feature race with a capacity field lining up for a share in $135,000 in prize money.

We’ve done the form and offer our thoughts in our 2021 Palmerston Sprint Day Preview below.

Captain Hedderwick was a winner here three starts back and has done well to find the placings over the same track and trip since. He likes to get back and run on, so barrier 8 should suit him nicely with the apprentice claim put to good use.

Feed The Monster has run well in two starts since returning and has placed over the mile previously.

Miroku has returned a place in two starts this time in and has plenty of scope to improve out over further.

The Mont was impressive last time out of over shorter where he led all the way to beat his rivals by close to a length.

That run suggested he’s looking for further now, although he will have to carry 2kg’s extra for his troubles.

The Auditor is a proven customer over this trip with four wins and five placings on the board from 13 starts.

He was outstanding over this track and distance a fortnight ago where he put six lengths between himself and the rest of the field.

While this is a tougher task with some extra weight, having fitness now on his side means he looks like good value.

Mini Boom looks well-placed to return to the winner’s circle back out to 1200m.

The Spirit of Boom mare won well over this track and distance two runs back before finding the step down to 1100m not to her liking.

Philip Cole’s mare is four-from-five at this venue and is no doubt the horse to beat.

Patria is working towards a win and is another with plenty of runs on the board over this trip. She should be doing her best work late.

This isn’t a race I’m overly keen to dive into, but it does look like a winnable one for Dream Weaver.

The filly by Dawn Approach over-raced early on debut over this track and trip but did show some real improvement for fourth a fortnight ago.

Stephen Brown replaces Simon Miller in the saddle and the pair should be doing their best work late from the soft draw.

Little Town Blues is only lightly raced, but this basically looks his to lose based on recent form.

The three-year-old by Exceed and Excel won by eight lengths over this track and trip two runs back before working home well to fill the minors over further last start.

He’s shown in six starts so far that he’s got a serious motor, and with little speed engaged, he’s going to take a power of beating from the front.

Race 6 – 4:32pm – Ascend Sales Trophy Handicap (1000m)

Familja made it a hat-trick last month and will carry the top weight again in his return to the races.

The old boy is the one to beat on recent form and should get a lovely cart into the race coming off the speed.

Hattan Man doesn’t win out of turn, but he appears to be working towards another win following a clear second to Fort Knox over further last week.

He’s raced to mixed results on the quick backup but is definitely a major contender if Paul Shiers can offset the awkward draw.

Race 7 – 5:10pm – Palmerston Sprint (1200m)

We’ve got a capacity field lining up in the feature and it is shaping to be a very wide-open betting race.

The Captain will carry top weight following his brilliant win two weeks ago in the Darwin Stakes and there’s no question the form out of that reads well getting out over the same distance.

Smuggling finished a clear second that day from the rails draw, which I don’t think suited him early on, however barrier 4 should see him get well back to produce a big run late.

Mayameen has hardly put a foot wrong this prep with three wins from four starts and having raced at Listed level in the past and he will get in nice and light at the weights to go one better.

Maps to go to the front and should prove tough to run down with fitness on her side.

Niewand loves racing at this track and is worth including in multiples. She finished a clear second to Mayameen a few weeks ago over shorter and should appreciate the drop in weight.