DAR AUG 01 - HAWKS BAY GETS HIS DUE REWARD

By Graham Potter | Monday, August 1, 2011

The steadying burden of 62kg failed to anchor the Neil Dyer trained Hawks Bay as the son of Black Hawk made it third time lucky when taking out the Darwin Cup which was contested over 2000m at the Fanny Bay track.

Hawks Bay had finished second in this top end feature for the last two years. He had to settle for second best, 1.80 lengths behind Activation, when held up for a run in 2009 and then was only shut out by a narrow margin in 2010 when beaten by 0.10 lengths by Shout Out Loud.

This time, under the guidance of top gun Steven Arnold, Hawks Bay simply strolled to victory which was achieved every bit as easily as the official four length winning margin suggests. Palmyra Boy finished a clear second to give Dyer the quinella in the race.

Hawks Bay started second favourite at $4.50. The main fancy, The Ruffian, could do no better than fill an ordinary sixth placing.

Hawks Bay’s win came on the back of an Open Handicap win in Darwin on July 23 in his final prep run for the Cup. His race record now stands at eleven wins and nine places from thirty-nine starts with stake earnings of $581 695.

The Darwin track has been a happy hunting for Hawks Bay. While he did have to wait those couple of years before landing the Cup, Hawks Bay also has a Northern territory Derby and the Darwin Guineas on his resume. He annexed both of those races back in 2009.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Neil Dyer: "It's been a long time coming but it has been worth waiting for.

“There is a heap of people to thank. A lot of the owners came up today.

"Stevie (Arnold) rode him a treat. Everything went together today, it was beautiful. I was pretty confident with S Arnold riding quiet like that.”

Jockey Steven Arnold: "It was his third go at it and he gave me a beautiful ride and he is so genuine. He really deserves it.

"I was counting to 10 a bit coming to the corner because with 62, I didn't want to get there too early.

"He gave me a lovely ride, he just cantered up to them and put paid to them at the furlong. It was great.”

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