Despite a hiccup en route to the Red Centre, South Australian trainer Kym Healy is primed for the Alice Springs Cup Carnival starting on Sunday.
Healy, who has supported the Alice Springs and Darwin Carnivals for years, will have eight runners at Pioneer Park, where he has had 21 wins and 50 minor placings from 200 starts.
He has won the Alice Springs and Darwin Cups with Pretty Blonde.
Leaving his Strathalbyn base on Monday with 11 horses for the 1590km trek, Healy’s truck broke down three hours up the road due to a faulty fuel pump.
“My neighbour is a mechanic and he brought me a new fuel pump,” Healy said.
“It took four hours to repair, we were back on the road by 1.30am on Tuesday.
“Stopped at Coober Pedy for three hours and got here at 9.30pm on Wednesday.
“Didn’t have the smoothest trip and we had a couple of spells on the way up, but the horses were fantastic.”
Taipan Tommy, Equal Balance, Real Valentia, Starlite Rebel, Mathematics, Cyclonite, Galaxy Falls and Lotto Fight will feature this weekend.
Noble Magnate, Forever Wild and Into The Fury made the trip as well, while He’s Maverick finished second in last Saturday’s 1200m maiden.
“A few have been up here before, and I’ve got a couple of new ones,” Healy said.
“You’ve got to try and pick out the right ones that hopefully handle the track.
“I’ve only had Cyclonite and Mathematics for 12 months – Lisa Whittle had them here and they raced well for her.
“I think there’s a few that should be around the mark on Sunday.”
Equal Balance, who starred in Alice Springs and Darwin last year, lines up in the $35,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) at BM76 level on Sunday.
A nine-year-old gelding, the son of Hinchinbrook, returned from a spell, finishing last in the Kangaroo Island Cup (1880m) on February 17.
“I was probably a bit tough on him first up, but he was there for the last couple of 100m – just knocked up to finish ninth.
“He’s come on really good, Emma Lines rode him this morning (Friday) and said he feels great.”
Taipan Tommy, who lines up over 1400m (0-70) this weekend, had three wins and a second from four Alice Springs starts last year before winning the Tennant Creek Cup (1600m).
Equal Balance, and perhaps Taipan Tommy, is bound for the Alice Springs Cup on April 7, while Healy has eyed the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on April 6 for Noble Magnate.
“The Cup is the plan with Equal Balance, but we’ll know more about Taipan Tommy after the weekend,” Healy added.
“Noble Magnate, formerly trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly in Adelaide, is going around in a Benchmark race next week and then we’ll assess his program.”
Healy returns to Strathalbyn on Monday before driving back to Alice Springs next week.
Stable-hands Millie Wallace and Monique Pugsley, along with local apprentice jockeys Emma Lines and Ianish Luximon, will man the fort in Healy’s absence.
Horse racing news
