Ayres Awaiting Darwin Cup Clearance

QUEENSLAND trainer Robert Ayres is awaiting a clearance from the Northern Territory government in his bid to get to Darwin to handle fastest heat winner I'm Explosive in Sunday's Group 3 Darwin Cup (537m).

I'm Explosive (Barcia Bale-Explosive Madame) was impressive in her Darwin Cup heat win on Sunday night scoring by five lengths in 31.40.

Ayres had hoped last week to travel with the bitch from his Glasshouse Mountains base but he would have been forced into two weeks quarantine.

“I spoke to Greg Aldam the secretary of the Darwin club and he then organised for club committeeman Rob Brown to look after her for me,” Ayres said.

“And Rob has been fantastic.

“She was coming off a hard first-up 600 metre race against Kooringa Lucy at Albion Park so I didn't want Rob to trial her at Darwin.

“She lost only a small amount during the flight to Darwin.

“But Rob has walked her around the track a number of times and given her a few slips to keep her fit.

“It all worked out in the heat win.”

Ayres and Brown keep in constant touch and have found they share so much in common.

“It's almost like I'm training her up there Rob and I share so much in common,” he joked.

Ayres is hopeful of getting to Darwin midway through this week for the final.

“I'm hoping for a decision from the NT government today,” he said.

“If I get to Darwin it will be a great holiday for my wife Helen just to have me up there for a week.”

Other heats of the Cup went to the Primrose Bryant-trained Carry On Angel in 31.73 and Tom Tzouvelis' Sunburst in 31.53.

The box draw for the final will be held on Tuesday night at a club function.

“Everyone would like the one of course,” Ayres said.

“She had the middle draw when finding early trouble but running Louis Rumble to a length in the Young Guns final at Ipswich three runs back.”