With three Darwin Cups and a host of Top End features in his pocket, Victorian trainer Neil Dyer celebrated again on Wednesday when Munster won the $40,000 Jaytex Construction Cup (1300m) at Fannie Bay.
For Canberra-based jockey Aaron Sweeney, it was his first Darwin Cup Carnival feature win, with the $11 hope finishing strongly to overwhelm his rivals by five lengths.
For Dyer, who also had success in the opening race when 10-year-old gelding Latest Bentley saluted as the $3.40 favourite, it was adequate consolation as Munster was ear-marked for Saturday’s $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m).
Dyer, based in Kyneton, brought the seven-year-old gelding to Darwin for Murray Bridge trainer Michael Hickmott, a former Top End trainer who has also won three Darwin Cups, with the NT’s feature race for the speedsters his main objective.
“Michael and I spoke about six weeks ago about bringing him up for the Palmerston Sprint,” Dyer said.
“First run over 1000m was very good when he finished third, but the next one over 1200m was pretty ordinary when he came fourth and the Palmerston went out the window.
“We did a gear change – put a nose roll on to get his head down a bit and added a winker down each side, and the result was good.”
Munster, who had won five races from 26 starts before his NT debut, was among seven horses vying for the early lead in the Jaytex Construction Cup before settling in seventh place along the rails at the 800m prior to exiting the back straight.
Versetto, Throw At Da Stumps, Bullinachinashop, Swing With Junior and New Roman were spread across the track out in front, but Munster was on the move at the 600m before leaving the fence at the 400m approaching the final bend.
Once straightening for home, Munster challenged Versetto and Throw At Da Stumps at the 300m before kicking clear at the 200m – Kym Healy’s $91 outsider Mathematics stormed home for second with Nicole Irwin’s $3.90 hope Versetto hanging on for third.
Jaytex Construction Cup replay – Munster
“It was very pleasing – he was going to win a long way out, wasn’t he?” Dyer said.
“Shame we never entered him in the Palmerston, but that’s the way it goes unfortunately.
“Come back next year and have a crack.
“Even old Latest Bentley had a win – he’s still racing well, but he’s coming to the end of his prep.
“The win was well deserved – he’s been trying and going close for a long time now, it was good to get one up.”
It seems like Dyer will end up having two runners in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on Monday after all.
He brought nine-year-old gelding Kaonic, fourth in the 2021 Cup before finishing second last year, and seven-year-old gelding Mohican Heights, who started his racing life in the UK before relocating to Australia, north with the Darwin Cup in mind and believes he has two genuine contenders at his disposal.
Mohican Heights had already qualified for the 12-horse field, but Kaonic was 13th in the order of entry when a first-up second over 1300m at Fannie Bay in June was followed by three races where he was unplaced.
Dyer said there was mounting speculation on Wednesday that leading Darwin trainer Gary Clarke would withdraw Siakam and Thought Of That from the Cup.
If that eventuates, Kaonic would then be added to the Cup field once final acceptances are declared on Thursday morning before the subsequent barrier draw.
“The way we’re hearing it, Kaonic’s in already as Siakam and Thought Of That aren’t going to run,” Dyer said.
“If he misses out, well, we miss out, but it would be a sin because he is firing.
“If he gets a start he’s a definite chance, that’s for sure – I’m very happy with the way he is going.
“We gave Mohican Heights a trial on Tuesday over 900m and he ran well.
“He’s had a pretty big gear change with the addition of a one-eyed blinker, a rubber cross over nose band and a straight hanging bit.”
After winning the Top End trainers’ and jockeys’ titles respectively, Clarke and Jarrod Todd landed a double on Wednesday with Tiara Jewel and American Jazz.
Healy’s Choggy’s My Mate, Peter Stennett’s Kent Street and Dick Leech’s Prince Of Mercia also had success.
Meanwhile, Alice Springs-based apprentice Dakota-Lee Gillett was taken to Darwin Royal Hospital for treatment after injuring her arm when falling from Chris Pollard’s Let’s Soldier On passing the 500m in race four.
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