Having won last year’s Darwin Cup, Gold Coast raider Hadouken starts his inaugural Alice Springs campaign on Saturday.
Peter Robl’s six-year-old gelding debuts at Pioneer Park in the $40,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age before the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on April 6.
The son of Real Impact starred in the Top End last year with two wins before he and leading Sydney jockey Tyler Schiller claimed the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5.
Darwin Cup 2024 replay – Hadouken
Leading Darwin jockey Jarrod Todd, who partnered Hadouken to a win at Fannie Bay in 2024, will ride the horse during his Alice Springs sojourn.
Hadouken’s rating sky-rocketed following his first Darwin visit; however, in four Queensland starts since, his best result has been a last-start sixth at Doomben over 2200m in BM90 grade on February 22.
“After Darwin, I sat down and tried to work out a program that would best suit Hadouken,” Robl said.
“He was up against Benchmark 85 and 90 company on Saturday in Brisbane — he’s not good enough to be winning those races.
“I thought we’d have to consider an alternative and Alice Springs just fitted into the right spot.
“I think he’s actually gone better after his Darwin trip compared to how he was performing before going north because he was getting beaten in Benchmark 60 races.
“The fact that he was only getting beaten by three to four lengths, it was telling me that he’s probably going as a good as ever.”
Hadouken headed to Darwin last year due to the constant wet tracks in south-east Queensland and northern NSW, and he thrived in the drier conditions in the Top End.
“He’s always been a horse that has been effective on firm surfaces,” Robl added.
“He adapted to Gold Coast’s poly-track so well and excelled on the dirt track when he went to Darwin.”
Robl laments that Pioneer Park has no swimming pool, as that plays a key role in Hadouken’s preparation, but has adapted to the facilities at his disposal.
“They have a nice trail along the Todd River behind the racecourse, which has enabled me to get him off the track,” he said.
“He is in very good order, I expect a nice run from him on Saturday.
“He certainly has the class to be winning the race, but we’re mindful that we’re backing up eight days later in the Alice Springs Cup.”
Hadouken has drawn gate one in the Chief Minister’s Cup, which accommodates 12 starters, and Robl has the utmost faith in Todd.
“The barrier certainly helps, he’s obviously going to land in the first four or five,” he said.
“It will be up to Jarrod to decide when to get going and what he does with him.”
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