Before heading home, Victorian trainer Neil Dyer hopes to win Katherine’s biggest race for a second time on Saturday.
Based in the Top End for the past two months, Dyer once again had runners feature during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival.
Hettinger, a five-year-old gelding, will line up in the $30,000 Katherine Cup (1700m) – a race Dyer won with Mywordsaidthebird in 2017.
Dyer will return to Darwin before leaving for Kyneton, but not before stopping at Alice Springs, where Munster – winner of the $40,000 Jaytex Construction Cup (1300m) on August 2 – will race next Friday.
After producing good form in Alice Springs and Darwin, Hettinger is a big chance in Katherine and was the early $2.60 favourite with online bookmakers.
“Hettinger, he’s had a good prep up here,” he said.
“We thought that if we bring him up here and just see if he could get used to the dirt that would be great for bringing him back next year.
“He did better than that – he’s won three for the trip and probably should have won five.
“He is Kaonic’s half brother, so we were hoping that he would handle the dirt and he has.
“It all looks good for the future with him.
“He’s won over 1600m already, he’s got to get 1700m on Saturday.
“I don’t think that will be a problem, but this will be his last run and then he’ll be on the way home and going to the paddock for a couple of months.”
Mywordsaidthebird’s Cup win surprised Dyer, but he is expecting Hettinger to make some noise on Saturday.
“Before Mywordsaidthebird came up here to us from (Echuca trainer) Mick Cornish, he did go alright down in Victoria,” he said.
“It was good that he finally got used to the dirt and got one up.”
Darwin trainer Phil Cole, once again preparing a team for Birdsville and other meetings in western Queensland, will provide a serious challenger to Hettinger with Afternoon Tea.
The six-year-old mare has won three of her past six starts stretching back to Anzac Day, including the $35,000 Rose Bowl (1300m) for the fillies and mares at 0-70 level on July 19.
The daughter of Foxwedge was far from disgraced when she backed up to finish second behind the impressive Super Famous over 1300m on August 7.
Fellow Top End trainer Gary Clarke has won three of the past four Katherine Cups and will be represented in the 2023 edition by last year’s winner, Vallabar, and Influential Jack, who has three minor placings in four Darwin starts.
Chris Pollard’s All Hard Wood and Tayarn Halter’s Kippax complete the field, with the form guide suggesting that both should give some cheek under light weights.
Dyer always looks forward to Katherine Cup Day, where Oliver Bullet and Fierce Legend will also represent the stable on Saturday.
“It’s a good day down there,” he said.
“The track seems to vary every time you go there.
“We just hope it’s not too heavy and suitable for racing, which makes it safe for the horses to gallop on.
“Just like Hettinger, Oliver Bullet has barrier one as well.
“He was probably stiff on Cup Day that he ran off the track on the home turn and let the winner through.
“Otherwise, I reckon he would have won.
“He’s a miler, but we’re dropping back to 1300m – we just hope he can be competitive over that distance.
“Fierce Legend went mighty in the Derby and on Cup Day, and we’re expecting another good showing from him.”
Dyer confirmed that Kaonic, fourth in the 2021 Darwin Cup (2050m) before finishing second last year, has retired after finishing at the tail of the 12-horse field in his third start in the NT’s biggest race 11 days ago.
“He’s no good, he’s probably fractured a sesamoid,” he said.
“He’s bandaged up and he’s going to be rested in a box for a couple of months, and then I’ll find him a nice home.
“Disappointing for him to end up like that, but he’s quite comfortable in the box.
“We’ve just got to keep him nice and quiet for a couple of months.”
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