Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer is backing Kaonic’s experience to land him his fourth Darwin Cup win on Monday.
Dyer will also saddle up recent stable addition Mohican Heights, who he also believes has the talent to be a factor.
“They are both going well but Kaonic has done his apprenticeship up here in this race,” Dyer said.
Dyer’s confidence-building reference with Kaonic is his efforts in the past two Darwin Cups, which have produced a fourth and a second.
Last year, Kaonic was runner-up behind Playoffs, who set a course record in winning the race.
Dyer said Kaonic followed the favourite Living The Dream in last year’s Darwin Cup but got held up behind him in the run.
“We got held up and then ran on for second behind Playoffs, who ran a track record, so it was a pretty good run.”
Dyer also pointed out that Kaonic comfortably defeated this year’s favourite Noir De Rue last year and meets him 4.5kg better.
Dyer said Kaonic had been trapped eight and 10 wide at his past two starts, which have produced fifth placings over 1600m at Darwin, and Kaonic had finished strongly both times.
“He’s looking for 2000m; I’m quite upbeat about his prospects,” he said.
Dyer has turned to former Victorian jockey Stan Tsaikos to ride Kaonic.
“He’s ridden him twice for a win in the Toyota Cup last year and a third before that.”
Dyer said he expected Mohican Heights to improve on his debut for the stable and also in Darwin when he finished eighth.
“He’s had multiple gear changes and his jockey Aaron Sweeney has trialled him and said he’s adjusted.”
“He hasn’t had the racing up here, but he’s done plenty of other work. He’s an athlete and he can run those distances, but he doesn’t have the experience of Kaonic up here.”
Dyer has won the race three times,…
