Hadouken, last year’s Darwin Cup winner, showed without doubt he’s on song for a repeat in just over three weeks’ time when he outstayed hot favourite Cinque Torri in a thrilling $60,000 AUFS Chief Minister’s Cup, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Trained by Peter Robl, whose wife Elaine was representing her husband who had runners in Queensland, Hadouken had to be good to win.
In the hands of Paul Shiers, whose extensive honour roll of feature Territory races included a previous Chief Minister’s Cup win with Lightinthenite in 2015, Hadouken began well and shared the pace, albeit three-wide, with Cinque Torri on the fence and Wolfburn one-off.
Approaching the 1100m, with the order the same, Adam Nicholls aboard Cinque Torri slackened the pace, but just as he did, both Great Buy and Hennessy Lad whipped up wide and for a time there was a line of five across the track.
Almost as quickly as Great Buy and Hennessy Lad issued their challenges, they petered out, and it was left to the three protagonists up front to resume their rivalry.
With the home turn in sight, Wolfburn began to feel the pinch and it was then a two-horse war between Cinque Torri on the inside and big Hadouken on his outer.
The two waged a tremendous home straight battle, with Hadouken getting the upper hand in the final few strides to deny a brave Cinque Torri by a half-length, with Flash Flood an improved third just under five lengths back. Picaroon was fourth with Supreme Attraction making ground into fifth.
After a disappointing sixth in the Alice Springs Cup in early April, Hadouken had his supporters worried when at his first run back in the Top End since last year, he tailed the field in Great Buy’s ROANT Gold Cup a fortnight ago. He was never comfortable in the run and resented the kickback badly.
However, from gate four at the 1600m start on Saturday, he began well but in order to dodge the kickback, he was forced to sit three-wide for the trip until Wolfburn dropped back early in the home straight.
“What an effort,” said a delighted Shiers on weighing in. “I was okay sitting out there until that mid-race move, but I thought I won’t beat the favourite by riding a patient race. So I just bored it into Chippy’s horse him from the 550m mark, and my fella just kept going,” said the master horseman.
Cinque Torri lost absolutely no admirers in finishing second.
“We knew there’d be plenty of pressure and he’s been very brave,” said trainer Ella Clarke. “But today wasn’t the grand final,” she said.
Bear Story, last year’s Chief Minister’s winner, was a disappointment, getting back in the run and beating only Great Buy home.
Hadouken, a giant 6yo son of Real Impact and Any Other Day, was winning his ninth race at his 43rd start, and with seven seconds and five thirds as well, took his stake earnings to $391,275.
His trainer confirmed via phone that Hadouken would not have another run before the $200,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup as he bids to become yet another back-to-back winner of the NT’s greatest race, joining the likes of four-time winner Wood, and dual winners Lord Tiny, Kerr Street, Lothaway County, Hawks Bay and Ihtsahymn.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole