‘The best’ – Hickmott lands fourth Darwin Cup

Trainer Michael Hickmott has won his fourth Darwin Cup, but not with the horse most punters expected.

The South Australian trainer, who started his career in Darwin, won the $220,000 2050m race at Fannie Bay racecourse with $16 chance Watadeel, one of three runners for Hickmott.

Hickmott also saddled up $4.40 favourite Stormageddon, who finished seventh, and Jimi Hendrix ($12) who ran ninth, more than 10 lengths from the Bennett Racing-owned Watadeel.

The just turned seven-year-old gelding, who had stints with Annabel and Rob Archibald and Phillip Stokes, joined Hickmott’s yard in March.

After four runs in South Australia, he was sent to Darwin with two lead-up runs over 1300m and 1600m before relishing the step up in distance for jockey Zac Spain.

He won by 1.83 lengths over the Chris Nash-trained Rematch, with Hadouken running a gallant third in his bid to win three Darwin Cups in a row.

“I said all week this horse was forgotten about. Nathan Bennett and the Bennett Racing crew said don’t worry about running in the cup and I said, ‘no, we’ve got him right’,” an emotional Hickmott told Sky Racing.

“It means the world to have my family (here). That is the best.”

Hickmott won the Darwin Cup in 2007 with General Market, again in 2009 with Activation and 2016 with Canny Ballard.