Sport

Watadeel wins prestigious cup

By Rowan Frazer

Aug 13, 2026

Kym and Greg Sandford with the Darwin Cup.

Deniliquin-owned galloper Watadeel could target ‘back to back’ Darwin Cups after his recent win in the Northern Territory’s most prestigious race.

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The gelding is part-owned by Greg and Kym Sandford, through a Bennett Racing syndicate, and they were part of a contingent from Deniliquin who travelled to Darwin for the cup meeting last week.

Watadeel gave South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott his fourth Darwin Cup success, with Zac Spain in the saddle, at the juicy odds of 14-1.

The seven year-old gelding won by a length after taking the lead at the 100m mark.

The race is the Northern Territory’s most prestigious, with a total prize of $220,000.

Purchased for just $115,000 as a yearling, the tough galloper has now recorded eight wins and has earnings of more than $550,000.

Sandford said it was an exciting and extraordinary win, as Watadeel had an interrupted preparation for the race, and there was a back-up plan when a late jockey change was needed.

He said races in the Northern Territory are also notoriously difficult conditions, but Hickmott selected Watadeel specifically for the Darwin Cup.

“It’s hard for horses from down here, as the tracks are completely different,” Sandford said.

“They’re made of a combination of sand and tar in a black sand mix.

“Michael Hickmott picked the horse down here and asked if he could take it up.

“He’s been a winning trainer since he was 18 and with four Darwin Cups he has the record.”

The Sandfords enjoyed the win trackside in Darwin, but almost didn’t attend.

“We didn’t decide we were going until the week before the race.

“I was supposed to go to America that week, but in the end I’m pretty happy I didn’t.”

Now the co-owners and stable will decide what is next for Watadeel, and whether he will prepare to go back-to-back at the Darwin Cup.

“He’ll have a spell. We were actually discussing whether he would come back to defend his title.

“He’s just turned seven and had only run up to 1600m before, but he took on the 2050 (of the Cup).

“Zac Spain said he was a great ride and could’ve kept going, so although he is seven years old, it wouldn’t surprise me if we were able to go back next year,” Sandford said.