Emotional Victory For Hickmott As Activation Switches On In Darwin
- Monday, 03 August 2009 00:00
Getting a lovely run in transit, jockey Steven Ridler took Activation to the lead with a couple of furlongs to go and kept him going to hold off the late effort of Hawks Bay to 1 ¾ lengths.
That defeat meant Hawks Bay failed to become the third horse in history to win the Triple Crown of the Guineas, Derby and Cup and pocket a $100,000 bonus.
South Australian visitor, Honourable Kind finished third, beaten 6 ½ lengths behind second.
Hickmott was clearly emotional after the result, and was seemingly full of praise for everyone involved in the horse.
"I love this horse," Hickmott said.
"I love my big brother Robbie, he's done everything for me.
"And Steven Ridler, he's so tough. He shouldn't have been able to ride him.
"I love Steven as well.
"I just love this horse so much.
"I asked my mate Mark Pegus when I got him, ‘how will I improve him?' and Mark said ‘get him a new motor mate'.
"I was very confident, my brother works at Lloyd Williams and he said that if I get him right he'll win and I knew I'd get him right because we put some much work into him.
"I've been riding him in his work on the beach and I knew he was spot-on for this," he added.
Ridler was involved in a nasty fall on Wednesday at Fannie Bay and despite nursing some soreness, willed himself to ride Activation.
A winner of nine from forty starts, Activation has now won $842,800 in prizemoney.
This was his first win from three attempts in Darwin.