SA trainers Healy and Irwin continue to have success in Darwin

[Wandering Eyes]

Murray Bridge trainer Nicole Irwin and Alice Springs apprentice Dakota-Lee Gillett are all smiles after Eureka’s Victory saluted on Day 1 of the Darwin Cup Carnival at Fannie Bay last Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals)

South Australian trainers Kym Healy and Nicole Irwin are strong supporters of the Darwin Cup Carnival.

They have also had success in the Darwin Cup with Healy’s Pretty Blonde winning the race in 2014 and Irwin’s Highly Decorated saluting in 2021.

Healy and Irwin have had plenty of success in the NT over the years with Pretty Blonde also winning two Alice Springs Cups (2014 and 2017) and Highly Decorated winning seven straight in the Top End two years ago before and during the Cup Carnival – including the Adelaide River Cup.

Both trainers celebrated a win on Day 1 of the Carnival last Saturday with Irwin’s four-year-old gelding Eureka’s Victory winning over 1600m in open company before Healy’s three-year-old gelding Grinzinger Bishop got up over 1600m (0-64).

Irwin and Healy, who train out of respective stables at Murray Bridge and Strathalbyn, highly recommend the Carnival to any interstate trainer who has always envisaged having their horses feature at Fannie Bay.

“There’s lots to enjoy, definitely the weather and the social life,” Irwin said.

“You always know you’ve got a well-prepared dirt track.

“We hate training down south in the winter – you get rain one week, it’s a Heavy 10.

“Then you bring all your heavy trackers in and then you don’t get rain for two weeks and you end up on a Soft 5.

“At least you go to Darwin with a team of horses that you know will like a consistent track and you can just keep running them up there.”

Healy said: “I’ve been going there for quite a few years.

“It’s nice to be up there at this time of year with the weather and the good prizemoney draws you up there.

“I must also be getting sillier each year – I think I’ve got 16 horses up there this year.”

Irwin, who resides at Monarto, near Murray Bridge, and Healy, who resides at Echunga in the Adelaide Hills, returned home through the week and in fact boarded the same flight from Darwin to Adelaide.

“Yeah, quick trip back, just until Friday,” Irwin said.

“I will fly back Saturday morning on the midnight flight.

“Just come down and get a few jobs done at the stable while the weather is a bit nicer down here.

“Also see my grandson – miss him terribly.”

Healy added: “Yeah, I flew home Tuesday morning for a week.

“School holidays and just catch up with the kids and my wife, and sort a few things out.

“I fly back up next Tuesday.

“Millie Wallace, who rides track work down here for me, and a couple of others are looking after the horses in Darwin.

“She got off the plane in Darwin and I got on the same plane back to Adelaide.”

Irwin and Healy were chuffed to see their chargers get the cash last weekend.

“Gee whiz, Eureka’s Victory has had a bit of bad luck,” Irwin said.

“Every race he’s gone in for us and it’s just a normal race he’s won.

“He’s had two NT starts where there’s been a loose horse in Alice Springs and a fallen horse in Darwin.

“Hasn’t been much luck for him, so it was good to see him win on Saturday.

“He has an absolute love affair with Alice Springs apprentice Dakota-Lee Gillett.

“Again Dakota-Lee didn’t even have to pull the stick, which was great.

“He’ll go to the Buntine (2050m) and then depending how that goes it’s either the Cup or the other 2050m race on Cup Day.

Healy said: “Yeah, Grinzinger Bishop was quite impressive the other day and his times were quite good as well compared to the Guineas.

“He was going to go to the Guineas and it didn’t eventuate in the end.

“I trialled him and then took the advice of jockey Mark Pegus, who rode him on Saturday, and set him for the other race last Saturday.

“He’ll definitely go to the Derby now and then we’ll see what happens whether he makes it into the Cup or not.”

Irwin, who had six starters last weekend, won’t have a runner at all on Day 2 of the Darwin Carnival following the scratching of Versetto, while Austintayshus and Choggy’s My Mate will represent the Healy stable in a maiden.

“Versetto is not the easiest horse in the world to ride, he’s got a fair bit of attitude,” Irwin said.

“He’ll hopefully go to the Darwin Corporate Park Cup (1300m), it’s on the Wednesday (August 2) before the final weekend of the Carnival.”

Healy also opted for a quiet approach this weekend.

“I had 11 runners on Saturday and six the week before,” he said.

“Going a bit lighter this week, I just made it a bit easier while I’m away.

“I’ve got a few for next Wednesday – Bridge Toyota Cup Day.”

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