He had a big win at Oakbank last Saturday, and now leading South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott is eyeing the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m).
Hickmott, based at Wellington, south of Murray Bridge, will start seven-year-old gelding Lake’s Folly and six-year-old gelding Exalted Fire at Pioneer Park on Sunday.
It’s the final meeting (Day 5) of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, with Hickmott aiming to win his second Cup following Lieder’s 2019 triumph.
Oath Of Omerta, who was nominated for the Alice Springs Cup, saluted for Hickmott in the $107,250 Onkaparinga Cup (2150m) at Oakbank last weekend.
Lake’s Folly has returned to the Red Centre for another crack at the Cup after finishing fourth behind Write Your Name last year.
The son of Pierro raced during the Darwin Cup Carnival and after two poor runs, he won the Buntine Cup (2050m) before finishing fourth in the Darwin Cup (2050m) behind Write Your Name.
After finishing second over 1800m (BM68) at Murray Bridge on March 9, Lake’s Folly was a last start seventh over 1600m (BM82) at Morphettville two weeks ago.
Exalted Fire, the son of Valentia, starred in SA last winter, but in his last three starts at Morphettville during February and March, he was fourth over 1400m (BM82), seventh over 1400m (BM86) and eighth over 1600m (BM82).
He will have the services of in-form Darwin jockey Sonja Logan, high-profile SA jockey Todd Pannell will ride Lake’s Folly.
Hickmott, fresh from a winning treble at Ballarat on Wednesday, is heading to Alice Springs for the Cup and remains hopeful of success.
“Really looking forward to Sunday,” Hickmott said.
“Very tough race, there’s some really good horses that are in great form.
“I think my runners will need to run at their best, they might find it a bit tough this year.
“Lake’s Folly didn’t have much luck last year in the Cup in Alice Springs or Darwin.
“He’s proven that he can handle the surface, he’s travelled well and has arrived in Alice Springs in great order.
“We’re hoping for the best with Exalted Fire, his last preparation was fantastic.
“First up was really good, he pulled up with a minor issue second up and his last race probably wasn’t run to suit him.
“It’s fantastic to get back up to Alice, the Turf Club do a great job.
“For all the other issues that are going on around Alice Springs at the moment, the Carnival is one positive thing that you can look forward to.”
Hickmott, who started his training career in the Top End in 2006, won the 2007 Darwin Cup with General Market before two further wins with Activation (2009) and Canny Ballad (2016).
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