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A kind barrier draw will assist Victorian gelding Hawks Bay when he attempts to win his second Darwin Cup at Fannie Bay on Monday under a record topweight of 64.5kg.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Hawks Bay won the Darwin last year at his third attempt by four lengths under 62kg after two previous second placings.
His Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer realises Hawks Bay faces a massive task to set a weight-carrying record for the Darwin Cup but was relieved when the sevcen-year-old drew the coveted rails gate for the $185,000 event.
“I've got to say I'm probably less confident this year than what I have been the past three years but the barrier draw is a relief," Dyer said.
“I just reckon the weight and the horse's age make it a big ask.”
There is certainly nothing wrong with the form of Hawk Bay on his current Top End campaign.
He won the first two starts on his return to Darwin with 63kg and 63.5kg and was sixth under 65kg in the Metric Mile ion his final lead-up on July 28.
“He was a little bit below par his last run but he might have got away on me a little bit, just being a little bit too comfortable in the environment up here," Dyer said.
Hawks Bay will be ridden by former Darwin resident Steven Arnold in a field that features a number of former Victorian and NSW horses.
They include The Ruffian, the former Lloyd Williams-owned pair Bolton and Sheahan and the Sydney winner and G1-placed Syreon.
