HAWKS BAY chases a $100,000 BONUS in the DARWIN CUP

THE showpiece of racing in the TOP END will be run today (Monday, August 3) when Victorian galloper, HAWKS BAY, chases a $100,000 bonus in the Carlton Draught Darwin Cup.

Kyneton trainer, Neil Dyer, is hoping Hawks Bay can become only the third horse to complete the Triple Crown in the $150,000 Cup after taking out the Northern Territory Guineas and Derby. The last horse to win all three features during the Darwin carnival was Ventilago in 1996.

Hawks Bay's hopes of Triple Crown glory suffered a setback when he drew badly at barrier 13. But if the astute Dyer was worried, he didn’t show it, with a quick retort: “I’m not hitting the panic button just yet.”

He’s Here, chasing the Alice Springs – Darwin Cups double, emerged as a big threat to Hawks Bay when he drew gate three. “I'm rapt, seriously rapt,” trainer Kerry Petrick said. “When you carry that sort of weight (60kg) it helps enormously.”

Reigning Darwin Cup champion, Club Liquid, fared better than last year when he got barrier eight, with Palmyra Boy, a stablemate of Hawks Bay, drew nine.

HISTORY CREATED BY FAR HORIZONS IN PALMERSTON SPRINT

TRAINER Nev Connor and jockey Paul Shiers created a slice of Northern Territory racing history when Far Horizons won Saturday’s $100,000 Darwin Airport Resort Palmerston Sprint, 1200m.

The duo combined to win the feature race for the third successive year but Far Horizons had to withstand a late challenge from Crosswise to win by a neck.

The history-making win sparked emotional scenes as the popular 79-year-old Alice Springs trainer and the eminent Top End jockey celebrated their hat-trick.

It also proved a great family affair with Connor joined by wife Bonnie and son Greg as part-owners of Far Horizons. “This is my proudest moment - a wonderful thrill,” Connor said.

“To become the first to train the winner of this great race three years in a row is very special. I've been blessed with two great horses in three years.” (He won the previous two with Jade City).

A crowd of close to 20,000 is expected to witness the Darwin Cup, which has grown into the greatest annual tourist drawcard in the Top End.

If you want to learn more about the Cup and the terrific attractions of a visit to the Northern Territory for the big race go to the ‘May to August’ section of GETAWAY AND GO RACING on this website and read about: “THE RACE THAT STOPS THE TOP END.”