After 10 months, the unbeaten Dakota Lee finally makes her return to racing on Saturday when she lines up in open company for the first time over 1000m at Pioneer Park.
The four-year-old mare has been off the scene since April 16 last year, when she was sensationally scratched from the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival after refusing to enter the barrier.
Dakota Lee was the red-hot Guineas favourite, and when she failed to take her place in the field Greg Connor’s Flying Start, with Darwin Cup-winning jockey Jessie Philpot aboard, went on to win by eight lengths.
READ: Flying Start wins NT Guineas as undefeated Dakota Lee is scratched at barrier
For trainer Terry Gillett, it was a devastating moment as form leading up to the Guineas suggested Dakota Lee would be hard to beat.
In the final lead-up race for the three-year-olds over 1400m two weeks before the Guineas, Dakota Lee won easily – although Flying Start was not a starter.
“She’s a little bit hesitant going into the gates, but she’s as good as gold once you get her in,” Gillett said at the time.
“She’s still unbeaten.
“Full credit to Greg, it was a good win by Flying Start – he has only beaten the horses that Dakota Lee was beating.”
2022 NT Guineas replay – Flying Start (1st)
Flying Start – named as Alice Springs’ Horse of the Year for 2022 after excelling in both the Red Centre and the Top End – is also racing on Saturday, but in a different race.
With the 2023 Alice Springs Cup Carnival less than two months away there’s every chance Dakota Lee and Flying Start will finally square off – perhaps in the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m).
Dakota Lee’s focus right now is Saturday, and although quoted as an early $2.50 favourite on Wednesday with online bookmakers, she will have her hands full dealing with nine handy sprinters.
That includes two others from the Gillett stable – Supreme Attraction and Supreme Times.
Lisa Whittle’s trio Cyclonite, Mathematics and Mighty Murt are better than average, while Kerry Petrick’s Our Luca, Will Savage’s Cut It Out and Dick Leech’s Halgard can spring a surprise.
And there’s Paul Gardner’s 10-year-old mare Roughly, who has won seven of her past 14 starts from 1100-1600m and was a last-start winner over 1100m in open company on January 28 when she edged out Flying Start.
Roughly has missed a place once (fourth) during that run of 14 races since July last year, but will have to produce something special as she will lump 62.5kg and jump from gate 10 under in-form NT jockey Sonja Wiseman.
Gillett, a former jockey, is an established trainer in Alice Springs along with wife Leanne and rates Dakota Lee, who was purchased at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, as the best horse he has owned.
Following the Guineas incident, Dakota Lee was sent to SA for further education under the guidance of Strathalbyn trainers Greg Lesnikowski and Ryan Hannemann.
Gillett’s daughter Dakota-Lee, who started her apprenticeship on July 17 last year, actually rode Dakota Lee in the horse’s one and only trial at Murray Bridge on July 14, where she finished second.
READ: Dakota-Lee Gillett caps off big year
Dakota Lee’s return is eagerly anticipated and Dakota-Lee, whom the horse was named after, gets to ride the mare in an official race for the first time, which only adds to the excitement.
Jumping from gate three, Dakota Lee will carry 55kg thanks to her rider’s 3kg claim.
“She’s back, she’s my little girl,” Dakota-Lee said.
“I broke her in and did all the hard yards with her, so it’s very rewarding to be offered the ride.
“She’s looking and feeling better than ever.
“We couldn’t ask her to be in better condition – she’s jumping out of her skin.
“Everyone is over the moon – owners are excited, mum and dad are excited, I’m excited.
“She definitely has people’s hearts around Alice Springs and further on.
“I’m hoping that she’ll get around safe – that’s all that matters to me, but a win would be nice.
“She’ll jump from a nice gate where she can just position herself up nicely and sit where she’s comfortable.”
Dakota Lee’s comeback was imminent as she was nominated for recent Alice Springs meetings, but according to Dakota-Lee her dad wanted to make sure the mare was 100 per cent fit before bringing her back.
“We took her up to the gates recently to make sure everything was still OK with her going in – she walked straight in,” the 17-year-old said.
“Hopefully, she’ll have no issues this preparation and we can set her for some nice races.”
Despite booting home four winners in the Alice and two winners in Darwin after 61 rides, it’s definitely a big race for Dakota-Lee on Saturday.
“There will be pressure, but I’m not going to change or do anything differently,” she said.
“I’m happy with the way I’m riding at the moment, it’s been good, so that’s always a bonus.”
Dakota Lee’s first win in the Red Centre was in an 1100m maiden in March 2021 and by the end of year she had toppled the three- and four-year-olds over 1100m (Class 2) and 1200m (0-66).
A comprehensive win by 6.8 lengths over 1000m in February last year was followed by wins over fellow three-year-olds over 1100m by 7.5 lengths, 1200m by 7.5 lengths and 1400m by 4.8 lengths.
Stan Tsaikos, the Red Centre’s champion jockey for the past two years, rode Dakota Lee in six of her seven wins, with Paul Denton the pilot in her third start.
Despite not making a serious impact during the Cup Carnival last year, Dakota Lee was named as Alice Springs’ Sprinter of the Year for 2022.
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