Irish import Bear Story made a spectacular debut for trainer Neil Dyer, breaking the course record in the Chief Minister’s Cup at Fannie Bay on July 13. Under jockey Noel Callow, the horse clocked an impressive 1:33.95 for the 1600-meter race.
Ladbrokes now lists Bear Story as the $2.40 favourite with betting apps for the Darwin Cup on August 5. Despite previous struggles under Clinton McDonald in Australia, Bear Story’s strong synthetic track form in Ireland—three wins and a second from four starts—prompted James Dyer to aim for Darwin.
Neil Dyer believes Bear Story thrives on firm tracks, akin to dirt surfaces in the US. “Some horses get good traction on these surfaces. They enjoy not slipping and sliding and they give 100 per cent,” Dyer said. He expects the horse to be competitive if he gets a good barrier and a smooth run. “You’d think he’s going to improve. If he draws a barrier and gets a nice cruisy run, you’d expect him to be in the finish,” added Dyer.
Looking ahead, Neil Dyer plans to return to his Kyneton property post-carnival, while James Dyer will manage a small team in Darwin.