Dyer warns rivals

THE Darwin Cup Carnival for 2014 was officially launched on Monday.

Trainer Neil Dyer with Hawkes Bay, winner of the Darwin Cup two years in a row and returning for a third attempt to take out the triple crown

THE Darwin Cup Carnival for 2014 was officially launched on Monday.

And who better to be the centre of attention at Fannie Bay racecourse than Hawks Bay, who has won the Darwin Cup twice and finished runner-up twice.

The Neil Dyer-trained eight-year-old gelding has made the 8000-kilometre return journey from his home in country Victoria to Darwin six times.

The champion racehorse, who has been dogged by ongoing leg problems recently, looked strong and healthy as he paraded for the cameras with Carnival ambassador Cassie Valastro at the scene of some of his finest racing moments.

Dyer will take no chances with his star, promising Hawks Bay will only participate if fully fit, but at this stage he is set for another tilt at the race that stops a city.

“He looks a million dollars,” Dyer said of his star galloper.

“He has been doing plenty of swimming but he is not the horse he was three years ... We are still hopeful we can get him there on Cup Day.

“He has since won $250,000 so the Darwin Cup has been put on hold.”

In a career that has produced 14 wins from 61 starts, Dyer was instrumental in bringing Hawks Bay to Darwin for the three-year-old races, Darwin Guineas and NT Derby, in 2011.

“Having won those he continued in that preparation to run second in the Darwin Cup as a four-year-old,” Dyer said.

His Darwin Cup win of 2012 is arguably his finest hour in the Top End.

After winning his first Cup the year before by four lengths, he carried 64.5kg to eventual runner-up Bolton with 57kg in 2012.

“Hawks Bay led into the straight, was headed by Bolton, and showed enormous determination and courage to fight back and win in a photo by a nose,” Dyer said.

“He is not only a racehorse, an iron horse, a warhorse, a wonder horse, but also a pleasure horse for all the enjoyment he gives to so many people.”

In fact, after that second win, some enthusiasts even temporarily changed signposts around the racecourse from Fannie Bay to Hawks Bay.

Dyer brought a team of 18 horses from his Kyneton headquarters this campaign with six-year-old gelding Cantonese a potential star in the making.

“Cantonese was a good performer in Sydney and he was bought for the Darwin Cup a couple of years ago,” he said.