POPULAR Kyneton trainer and ‘King of the Top End’, Neil Dyer (pictured), will saddle-up two runners in this year’s 
$150,000 Carlton Draught Darwin Cup (2000m) at Fannie Bay next Monday.
Dyer will be represented by Hawks Bay and Palmyra Boy in the big race on the ‘first Monday of August’.
The carnival continued to become a real dream for Dyer when Palmyra Boy ($6.50) landed a storming victory in last Saturday’s TVN Metric Mile (1600m) at Fannie Bay racecourse.
The win was the six-year-old gelded son of Mujahid and Palmyra Bay’s second win at this year’s carnival, with the gelding liking the ‘Top End’ conditions, having won there last year.
The gelding was ridden by New Zealand hoop Jan Cameron who rode the gelding in his previous win and will be aboard him in the Cup.
"He’s a bit of a funny bugger, but seems to enjoy the gentle touch Jan provides; they get on terrific," Dyer said.
A bigger ‘fish to fry’ is Dyer’s chance to take out the elusive $100,000 Triple Crown Bonus for the owners of Hawks Bay, having won the Guineas and Derby. The last horse to gather the bonus was Ventilago in 1996.
Hawks Bay has been given 53.5 kilograms and regular rider Paul Shiers will have to declare close to 1kg overweight.
Since hooking-up his caravan onto his float in early June, Dyer has saddled-up five winners in Darwin.
Win on home track
Back home at Kyneton on Tuesday, the Dyer stable continued its incredible run of success, with a win with Air Dulooka in the Kleenheat Gas Handicap (0-62) over 1118 metres.Starting a $5 equal favourite, the six-year-old daughter of Mookta and Air Du Bleu 
saw daylight when straightening and rider Roger Booth gave the mare her head, storming down the middle of the track to defeat Streaming Jet ($15) by 3¼ lengths with Red Aurum ($8) a further 3½ lengths away third.
Air Dulooka who has been in the hands of Dyer throughout her 30-race career has now saluted six times with two minor placings.
Redbacks love Sue
Neil Dyer might be ‘King of the Top End’ at present, but fellow Kyneton trainer Sue Ellis was ‘Queen of Romsey Football Club’ last Wednesday at Betfair Park.
Ellis was successful with September Dreaming ($11) on the Hillside track in the Mitty’s Rising Stars Final (0-89) for 
apprentice riders over 1720 metres.
A syndicate from the Romsey F.C. part-lease the four-year-old daughter of Cape Cross and C’est Soir from Eliza Park’s Lee Fleming.
The win was a welcome change of luck for the connections who have had a luckless run with the lightly-raced mare over recent starts.
"She deserved that win. She’s been very unlucky her past few runs," Ellis said.
The win was the first city winner for former Tasmanian apprentice Nathan Rose.
"Nathan rode her a treat," a happy Ellis said after the race.
"He had her perfectly placed and she did the rest," she said.
September Dreaming has now won three with a similar number of minor placings in her 16 starts.
For the majority of the Red Back Racing Syndicate it is a first-time ownership involvement, and the win spurred on their team who defeated Diggers Rest on Saturday and now are currently sitting in fourth position on the Riddell Football League ladder. It certainly could be a year for that September dream!
More wins for Corstens
Very rarely a week goes past without the Romsey-based Corstens stable getting a mention.
The stable saluted with Embark at Bendigo last Thursday and a most impressive Faster Stronger at Benalla on Saturday.
Embark ($9) was a narrow winner of the 0-72 Handicap defeating the $2.20 favourite Overtake.
The five-year-old gelded son of Pins was ridden by Peter Mertens.
Starting an even money favourite, Faster Stronger (Stravinsky - Dane Dancer) gave nothing else a chance when a 3-1/2 length winner of the Maiden Plate (1615m) defeating the 20-1 outsider Goadel.
A New Zealand purchase by the trainer’s son, Troy, Faster Stronger has NZ breeder Sir Patrick Hogan as a part-owner.
The three-year-old colt was having his fourth start and was placed at his two previous starts.
He was ridden by the in-form Linda Meech.
Pictures courtesy of SLICKPIX.
