Hawks Bay Makes Fannie Bay Home

Monday, 20 July 2009 00:00

Victorian three-year-old Hawks Bay has the opportunity to snatch a $100,000 Triple Crown bonus if he wins the $150,000 Carlton Draught Darwin Cup (2000m) on August 3.

If successful, he'll be the first horse since Ventilago in 1996 to complete the treble of the Guineas, Derby and Cup.

And that is sure to bring a smile to the face of former jockey Brenton Primmer.

On Saturday in the $100,000 Northern Territory Derby (2000m), Hawks Bay fought off the late surge of classy South Australian visitor, Honorable Kind, to claim victory by just a half-head.

That win ensured Hawks Bay has earned in excess of $100,000 in prizemoney from its past two starts, exceeding the expectations of trainer Neil Dyer.

"To win the one race was great but to win two is just fantastic," Dyer told Sport 927 this morning.

Arriving in Darwin before the official ‘kick-off' of the carnival, Hawks Bay failed to perform at his first run on the oil-based surface, finishing fifth beaten six lengths from the winner.

He bounced back at his next start to win the $50,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) by 3 ½ lengths before winning once again at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

Dyer also revealed former jockey Brenton Primmer is a part-owner in Hawks Bay.

Primmer was involved in a heavy fall at Warrnambool back in September 2006 which immediately ended his riding career and threatened to take his life.

"Brenton rode the half-brother of Hawks Bay, Peace Prize, and won on it a couple of times early on in its career," Dyer said.

"He told us that it was his favourite horse.

"So when he was recovering in hospital from the fall, as a gift we gave him a share in Hawks Bay," he added.

Primmer is expected to travel north to watch the race trackside in a fortnight's time.

That's reason enough to cheer Hawks Bay home.

PIC - Jenny Barnes