After a period of convalescing, it will be business as usual for wily Darwin-based trainer Dick Leech come the Fannie Bay meeting on Melbourne Cup Day.
Leech, who operates stables in Darwin and Alice Springs these days, wasn’t sighted for weeks after taking a team to Western Australia where he once again enjoyed an element of success on the grassed-surface at Kununurra.
There were three meetings at Kununurra on August 20, August 27 and September 3 – some 830km down the road from Darwin via Katherine – with the Leech stable represented on 35 occasions for eight wins and a host of minor placings.
After the intensity of the Darwin Cup Carnival, Leech headed to WA for what he refers to as his “annual holiday”, but he’s refreshed and ready to once again leave his mark in the Top End.
“I need to get back into it, I need a few bucks, mate,” he laughed.
He made his first appearance back at Fannie Bay on October 15 for the first time since Darwin Cup Day on August 1 when Early Crow, an on-line purchase from Queensland, made his debut against Class 2 opposition over 1000m.
The four-year-old gelding was erratic that day before focusing to finish fourth with the Chris Pollard-trained Cudjerie, who has suddenly found form, braining his rivals by five lengths.
Early Crow backs up to take on Cudjerie and six other rivals at a Class 2 level over 1100m (Race 5) on Tuesday and was a $5.50 quote on Monday night.
Leech’s other runners on the seven-race card include War Games ($9) in Race 1 over 1300m (0-58), Write Your Name ($2.90) in Race 2 over 1300m (Open Handicap), Flying Deputy ($2.80 eq fav) in Race 3 over 1200m (Maiden) and Signor Fangio ($6) in Race 6 over 1100m (0-70).
Alice Springs jockey Jessie Philpot, who rode Highly Decorated to victory in the 2021 Darwin Cup, will make the flight north to partner all five runners.
War Games, Write Your Name and Signor Fangio last raced at Kununurra in early September, with Write Your Name winning three races on the bounce, while Flying Deputy is a new arrival after racing four times in Queensland and twice in NSW.
Leech isn’t expecting to “clean up” on Tuesday, but is adamant his team will prove competitive.
“They’ve been working well,” he said.
“Back to the dirt, so see how they go.
“Look, they’re all feeling well, I’m pretty happy with them all.
“First go back on the track they’re not rock hard – apart from Early Crow.
“The way they race here, they go like scolded cats.
“They go that quick, you can’t push horses from ‘woe to go’ straight up, first up.
“They’ll definitely improve on their runs.”
Leech confirmed that he did choose to give his horses a break after the Darwin Cup Carnival and the Kununurra excursion.
“They all came out home here at my property for five to six weeks,” he said.
“Had them running around the paddock here and they kept fairly fit – but then it got a bit too hot, so we took them back in town and started them off.
“It wasn’t a big push to get them fit again.
“There’s only seven in town and the rest went back to Alice Springs under the care of my foreman Lorraine Edwards.
“Some don’t handle the heat here at this time of year, so I sent a heap back down to Alice.
“There’s eight or nine down there.”
Back to the Fannie Bay meeting on Tuesday.
“I like Early Crow – he’s drawn a better gate and he’s had his first run up here, so I reckon he’ll go not too bad,” Leech said.
“The other horse going for four straight, Write Your Name, he’s been working really well.
“War Games will appreciate the 1300m and the wider barrier I think suits him – he’ll probably get back a bit and make an impact late.
“Not sure about Flying Deputy, but his form isn’t too bad.
“Going around on his own track work he couldn’t get out of his own road, but put him with another horse and he actually tunes right up – he has a crack.
“I think he might also be a bit of fun and games in the mounting yard.
“Signor Fangio keeps rolling along and should run a good race.
“Actually, it’s probably the best I’ve ever had him looking.
“When he went to Kununurra his coat looked terrible.
“To be honest his coat in Alice Springs and Darwin looked just as bad when he arrived in the NT in April.
“We brought him home and we spelled him.
“He’s going alright, he’ll give a bit of cheek.
“He’s definitely an each-way chance – he never stops trying.”
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