Bay Weighs in

Tue, August 02 2011

It was certainly third time lucky for Hawks Bay. And how, especially with 62kg on his back.

The Neil Dyer trained six-year-old gelding confined his heartbreaking defeats in the 2009 and 2010 Darwin Cups to the history books with a scintillating victory yesterday.

The $175,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000m) was as goo as over by the 400m mark when the Victorian raider, with premier Australian jockey Steven Arnold aboard, loomed up on the leaders before streaking away to win the NT's premier race by four lengths. Magnificently placed in fourth position along the back straight, Hawks Bay, who was cruising, make his move at 800m as Arnold set his sights on leaders Montego Bay (Scott HIllebrand), Club Liquid (Michael McDuff) and Robdon Flyer (Colin Haddon). Turning for home, Hawks Bay - the $4.40 second favourite - was never in danger of defeat and by the 200m mark it was clear that Dyer had finally claimed the race that he has craved for the last three years.

It was a double celebration for the Kyneton-based trainer as the ever-consistent Palmyra Boy  (Jan Cameron) finished strongly for second, while the Melinda Boothby trained Blackbriar (Paul Shiers) made the handicapper look like a genius by running third. Yes, the horses with the 1-2-3 saddlecloths filled the placings.

The Sheila Arnold trained The Ruffian ($2.60 fav.), who was aiming to become only the third horse to win the Darwin Turf Club's Triple Crown, was second last at the turn after being blocked for a run at the 500m. Palmyra Boy made his run at precisely the same time The Ruffian was preparing to make his move and in the end, it cost the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and NT Derby (2000m) winner any hop of victory. The favourite ended up coming sixth.

Very Fast (Phillip Crich), the $101 outsider from Victoria, produced an outstanding effort and justified his place in the race when he stormed home to grab fourth from the Jason Manning trained General Mazeratti (Vanessa Arnott). The fact that two Territory horses - Blackbriar and General Mazeratti - finished in the first five was a marvellous accomplishment. Dyer was full of emotion.

"I've been trying  for a few years and I don't know how I would have felt if he hadn't won today," he said. "It's been a long time coming but in the end it was worth the wait. At the corner I knew he was home and Steven produced and exceptional ride. No, Steven produced a beautiful ride. The fact that Palmyra Boy ran second has also made it worthwhile travelling to Darwin for the third straight year. Of all the races I have won since coming to Darwin, the Cup is the race that I have so desperately wanted to win. I'm not sure if I'll be back next year. "

After winning over 1000m in the first race at Fannie Bay on June 18, Hawks Bay was third in the ROANT Cup (1300m) and fifth in the Chief Minister's Cup (1600m) behind Palmyra Boy.

Despite the irresistible form of the The Ruffian during the Carnival, Hawks Bay bounced back into Cup calculations when he beat the Stephen Brown trained Bolton and Palmyra Boy home in the Metric Mile (1600m) on July 23. Bolton, who was third favourite for the Cup, failed to get a start when he was eliminated yesterday as the first emergency.

Story courtesy of David White, NT News