Dhaulagiri takes home Country Cups Pacers Final
Dhaulagiri is proving a bargain buy for connections adding the H&P Equipment Hire Port Pirie Cup (2530m) to his collection with a record-breaking victory on Saturday.
The gelding rated 1:56.6 to take 0.1 off the previous best recorded by Lord Zarias on September 27 last year.
Mount Gambier trainer Matthew Horsnell was able to pick up Dhaulagiri for $15,000 as a seven-year-old in October 2024.
Saturday’s Port Pirie Cup win took his stakes earning for his new ownership group to more than $103,000 and he has picked up five Cup wins in the process.
He started with the St Arnaud and Boort Cups in Victoria, but this year has added the Kapunda, Strathalbyn, and now Port Pirie Cups.
At Port Pirie, Dhaulagiri ($6.50), driven by Samantha Hill, raced away for a 16-1/2 metre win from Artillery ($26) with Last Tango In Heaven ($21), 5-1/2 metres away third.
There was action aplenty from gate release and really never slackened at any stage.
Hill angled Dhaulagiri away from the inside of the second row at the start and with a runners jockeying for spots at the front, she settled midfield in the running line.
No sooner had the $1.75 favourite Heza Punk Rocker found the front from gate four, than Hill brought her drive forward to settle outside the leader.
Dhaulagiri and the favourite raced stride-by-stride for a lap before with 500 metres to travel, Hill let the nine-year-old stride, and he quickly asserted control and raced away for an easy win.
Horsnell admitted the winner had exceeded his expectations.
“When I bought him I was looking for a horse than could race regularly at tracks like Melton, Menangle and Globe Derby Park,” Horsnell said.
“He has certainly achieved that and seems to be thriving under my training regime.
“The Port Pirie Cup was his grand final this preparation, so the Kapunda and Strathalbyn Cups were bonuses along the way.”
The trainer said there was a good chance Dhaulagiri could seek another feature success this Saturday, April 25, at Globe Derby Park in the $15,000 Adelaide Pacing Cup (2230m).
“He pulled up in good order and provided he does well this week I will probably come back.”
For driver Samantha Hill it was another major victory.
“I won the inaugural Pot Of Gold on Offyarocka Rocker last year which was very special because I also trained him,” Hill said.
“It was a $25,000 final and the Port Pirie Cup was a $26,000 race so they were both really good races to win.
“Dhaulagiri is such a good horse, and it was an honour to drive him for Matt (Hornsell) and the connections.
“He is such a versatile horse – he has a great sprint and can also do it tough.
“He travelled beautifully in the run and really I just let him go coming off the back and he put them away without me actually asking for an effort.”
Hill’s husband Wayne had a double at the meeting.
He scored on Antiguas Be Be, trained locally by Michael Dennis, in the Geoff Brock MP Independent Member for Stuart Pace (1609m).
A $9.50 chance, Antiguas Be Be finished strongly to win by a half neck from Zany Girl ($1.70 fav) with Skinny Horace ($19) two metres away third.
Hill also won on Letsstartinheaven ($1.60 fav) for Gawler trainer Peter Bain in the Typhoon Project Services Pace (2050m).
The odds-on favourite came up the sprint lane to score by a half head from Deuce Coupe ($4.80) with Sea Salt ($3.40), 10 metres away third.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Lyndall White