Former South Australian galloper Hasseltoff produced a slashing Alice Springs Cup trial after saluting on his NT debut over 1600m in open company at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
After a last start win at Morphettville in late January against BM78 opposition over 1600m for Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes, Hasseltoff was purchased by NT trainer Dick Leech – who has stables in Alice Springs and Darwin.
It’s yet to be confirmed, but the eight-year-old gelding contesting the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on April 6 appears inevitable.
Hasseltoff, the son of Toorak Toff, had success at Flemington for Cranbourne trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock and Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig before debuting for Stokes last October.
A ninth over 1400m at Murray Bridge was followed by two wins at Morphettville over 1533m at BM72 level and Gawler over 1500m in the BM78 ranks.
In late December, Hasseltoff was eighth in a BM78 over 1800m at Morphettville before getting that third win for Stokes on January 25 when he surged from the back of the field in the home straight.
Hasseltoff may have had form and fitness on his side on Saturday, but dealing with the dirt and kick-back for the first time was a concern.
A $1.95 favourite with online bookmakers before starting as the $2.60 second favourite, Hasseltoff settled fourth before Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc looked for the lead entering the back straight.
After joining Ray Viney’s $4.40 hope Duty, ridden by Sonja Logan, at the helm, Hasseltoff was two lengths clear at the 1000m and was cruising at the 600m when Duty got within a length.
Hasseltoff, who had to contend with 61kg despite Le Blanc’s 2kg claim, skipped away turning for home and was three lengths clear at the 200m before overcoming Duty by two lengths.
Kerry Petrick’s Venting, last year’s Alice Springs Cup winner, started as the $2.30 favourite with Paul Denton in the saddle, but he failed to fire and finished 4.5 lengths adrift of Duty in third place.
With the Darwin and Alice Springs St Patrick’s Day Cups (1600m) in March followed by the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) and an open 1900m Handicap during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival – which starts on March 16 – the build up to the Alice Springs Cup will intensify, but Hasseltoff has made an early statement.
Le Blanc, who could be Hasseltoff’s regular rider, continued her good form in the Red Centre with another double on Saturday after landing a treble the previous week.
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