Hickmott’s sole runner at Alice Springs in contention for Cup glory
Prominent South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott will start Lake’s Folly in the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at Pioneer Park on Sunday.
It’s the final day of Alice Springs Turf Club’s Carnival (Day 5) and Hickmott, who has supported NT racing for years, was once again happy to send a horse north.
The Murray Bridge-based trainer had also nominated Verimli for the Cup, but the seven-year-old gelding will instead contest the $107,250 Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Lake’s Folly ($6.50 with online betting sites) will fly the flag for the Hickmott stable in the Cup with the six-year-old gelding arriving safely in Alice Springs on Thursday morning.
Having already won the Alice Springs Cup with Lieder in 2019, Hickmott is hoping for further NT success after winning the Darwin Cup with General Market (2007), Activation (2009) and Canny Ballad (2016).
Well known NT racing identities Sheila and Keith Arnold will care for the horse for Hickmott, who is unable to make the trip to Alice Springs this year.
“Just sent the lone runner up there this year, Keith has reported that the horse has arrived in excellent order,” he said.
“Lake’s Folly has got a good record over 2000m, he’s the right type of horse.
“He profiles well and it will be a good little tester to see if he is worth sending up north to Darwin.
“The Alice Springs Cup is a very hard race to win.
“For a race of its quality, it’s certainly one that everyone strives to win and it would be fantastic if this horse was able to do it.
“I go there with a huge amount of respect for the local runners.”
Lake’s Folly, a last start 12th over 1400m in the listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1400m) at Morphettville Parks last Saturday, was a winner over 2000m (BM78) at Murray Bridge on January 20 – that was four starts ago.
Prior to that victory he was third on Boxing Day over 1600m (BM82) and third on New Year’s Eve over 2022m (BM74) at Morphettville.
After that win on January 20, Lake’s Folly finished fourth over 1400m (BM86) at Morphettville Parks on March 25 and eighth over 1400m in the $107,250 The Vintage at Oakbank on April 8.
He has had 54 career starts for seven wins and 20 minor placings, with Adelaide-based jockey Sairyn Fawke – who has NT ties – booked to ride the horse on Sunday.
Hickmott agreed that Sunday’s line up for the Alice Springs Cup is strong with 12 runners facing the starter.
“Obviously, Saccharo and Write Your Name are racing well – rightly so they should be starting as the favourites,” he said.
“The horse of mine will be going up there as some what of an underdog.
“If he runs up to some of his better form he could be competitive.”
Phil Cole’s Saccharo was the winner of the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age last Saturday, while Dick Leech’s Write Your Name has won three straight having saluted over 1900m in open company on April 17.
Leech’s Century Fox, the winner of the NT Guineas (1600m) on April 17, and Lethal Encounter are in the mix, Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle has struck form, Terry Gillett’s Bench Press boasts impressive Alice Springs form, and Gary Clarke’s Group Think must be respected.
Tayarn Halter’s I Am The Fox won the Cup two years ago and finished second last year behind Count Of Essex, and although he is a rising nine-year-old gelding he has done little wrong in his past three starts.
A busy schedule thwarted Hickmott’s attempts to attend Alice Springs Cup Day.
“Unfortunately due to the flights it would have made it really difficult to get there, I love getting to Alice,” he said.
“I’ve got a lot of runners here on Saturday and I’ve also got to head off to Warrnambool for the Carnival.
“We’ve got runners in the Wangoom Handicap and races like that there, so I was unable to get up there this year which is a shame.
“Obviously very busy down here, but my wife Jade and I would love to get up to Darwin for the Carnival.
“That would be fantastic, we’ll just play the ball as it bounces.
“Got a lot of good friends in Darwin, probably we’ll just send the horses up to them and come up for a bit of a holiday.”
Hickmott has a long affiliation with NT racing having secured his trainer’s license in Darwin in 2006.
He originally headed to the Top End to work in real estate and incredibly he ended up winning the 2007 Darwin Cup at just 18 years of age.
Returning to SA in 2011 where his business and success has only escalated, Hickmott (29) currently sits in fifth place in the SA trainer’s premiership behind Richard and Chantelle Jolly (48), Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle (33), Phillip Stokes (30.5) and Garret Lynch (30).
Early Alice Springs Cup market: Write Your Name $3.10, I Am The Fox $5, Saccharo $5.50, Venting (em) $6, Lake’s Folly $6.50, Wicked Addiction $9.50, Bench Press $13, Century Fox $16, Fantasy Eagle $19, Group Think $23, Lethal Encounter $27, Lunch Session $35, Desert Lass $41.