South Australian stayer Promises Kept eyes Victoria cups double at Ballarat and Pakenham

South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott will launch a twin cup raid in Victoria in consecutive weeks with bargain stayer Promises Kept.

Michael Hickmott is targeting the Ballarat Cup and Pakenham Cup with Promises Kept. Picture: Racing Photos

Promises Kept will kickstart a back-to-back strike on Victoria’s cup circuit on Saturday, with Murray Bridge trainer Michael Hickmott earmarking the Ballarat Cup and Pakenham Cup with the proven stayer.

Promises Kept is currently a $15 chance with Sportsbet futures betting for Saturday’s $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup, and heads into the race following two solid fresh performances in the Murray Bridge Cup (sixth) and John Letts Cup (fifth).

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The six-year-old gelding, previously trained by Ciaron Maher, was a $60,000 purchase at an Inglis Online Sale in June.

“The two runs have both had plenty of merit, his first-up run in the Murray Bridge Cup was superb over a distance (1600m) that’s far short of his best,” stable representative Josh Hickmott said.

“When the horse came down in the John Letts last start, he just got ever so slightly interfered with, the margin in the end was probably a bit greater than it should have been.

“He’s trained on super, he’s a horse we’ve always had prospects to get right up over a trip. I think 2000m might even be short of his best.

“We’ll give him his chance to compete in a $500,000 race, from there we’ll probably leave him in Ballarat at Rob Hickmott’s stable for a week, and target the Pakenham Cup (December 13, 2500m) on the quick back-up.

“If he can bring his best (Saturday) he’s definitely a live chance … but I think the Pakenham Cup the following week is his real target.”

It’s a Ciaron Maher quinella in the @ladbrokescomau Hobart Cup but not in the order most expected!

Strawberry Rock beats Promises Kept in near track record time. pic.twitter.com/rV8U6HdgUS

— Tasracing Australia (@TasracingAus) February 9, 2025

Hickmott has three gallopers nominated for Ballarat’s 10-race card, including sprinter Cotehele in the Tonks Plate (1100m), and exciting four-year-old Party Crasher in a Benchmark 84 (2000m).

Party Crasher was an impressive winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and alongside Promises Kept, races for prominent owner John O’Neill.

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The son of Ocean Park is on an Adelaide Cup (3200m, March 9) path.

“The Adelaide Cup is firmly circled in the calendar as the big target – it’s just how we best get him there,” he said.

“He’s a horse that handles his work so well, he thrives on training, it would be quite hard to put him out in the paddock as he would genuinely not do as well as if he was staying in work.

“A month between runs is going to be his plan from now onto the Adelaide Cup.

“The way he’s racing at the moment hopefully parlays good into some stakes targets following this if he can notch the win like we expect him to.”

Party Crasher winning at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Picture: Racing Photos

Hickmott will saddle two promising youngsters on Morphettville’s card on Saturday.

Inhabit, a two-year-old daughter of Stay Inside, showed class to win on debut at her home track in October.

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“Without speaking out of line, I can confidently say she’s as good of a two-year-old that Michael has had come through the stable, aside from horses that he’s sold to Hong Kong in the early stages of his career,” Hickmott said.

“There’s some really nice Victorian form (nominated), we won’t take anything for granted, but the intention is to notch a win on Saturday and get enough prizemoney under her belt to give her a crack at the Magic Millions 2YO race on the Gold Coast.”

Three-year-old colt Torpedoes, a $60,000 yearling purchase from the 2024 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast, will also debut after showing strong trial form in recent months.

“In hindsight he’s been a terrific purchase, he’s been phenomenal in two early trials, I think he just got lost at Oakbank (third), which many horses to do,” Hickmott said.

“He’s a horse we’ve got a great deal of time for.”

Originally published as South Australian stayer Promises Kept eyes Victoria cups double at Ballarat and Pakenham