An affinity for dirt racing has carried the Queensland-trained Hadouken to successive Darwin Cup victories.
Ridden by newly crowned Melbourne premiership-winning jockey Blake Shinn for his close friend, Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl, Hadouken made his own luck and held on grimly to win the Northern Territory’s biggest race.
Hadouken sat outside the leader before Shinn made his move at the 500m to ensure the Cup was a true staying test.
The seven-year-old, a $3.50 chance, dashed clear before rallying to stave off Prince Joffra ($21) with the favourite Motorace ($3.40) taking the minor placing.
“It's a shame he doesn't have that will to win on the grass, but on the dirt he loves it,” Robl said.
Warwick Barr
It was a race that went to script for Shinn.
“He can absorb pressure and keep fighting till the end and he had to display those qualities at the backend of the race,” Shinn said.
“And, you know, this is a testament to Peter and his training ability.
“He's making a name for himself as a really astute trainer … when he puts them down and he says they're going to go close, they really do.”
Shinn celebrated his first Darwin Cup success after missing the ride on Hadouken last year because of the horse’s light weight.
