TRAINER Neil Dyer says the days of virtually emptying his Kyneton stable each winter in favour of a massive Darwin mission are over.
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But don't expect the more than 30-year trainer to be a stranger up north altogether.
Dyer, who has sent a big team of horses to Darwin each winter for the past dozen or so years, says he will still make his annual pilgrimage with a smaller group of gallopers.
But with extensive development of his Kyneton training complex ongoing, the three-time Darwin Cup-winning trainer's primary focus will be back home.
Dyer hopes a recent run of success, with three winners from his last six starters, is a sign the hard work and gradual shift in focus will prove for the best.
"Hopefully we can keep that sort of momentum up," he said.
"I wouldn't say we've rebuilt, but over the last six or 12 months we've started putting in all the stuff at home we need and I think that is going to pay dividends.
"I'll be going to Darwin and will have horses going, but I won't be focusing on it like I have been for the last 12 or 13 years.
"We'll take a smaller team, send one or two people up there to look after them and I'll whiz in and whiz out.
"I still want a Darwin Cup horse, but I really want to keep the momentum going on down here.
"We've just put a treadmill in, the (swimming) pool is nearly finished and we are putting in another 10 stables.
"The last job will be, we are putting an inside running rail around our training track.
"The running rail is probably 12 months away, but it's all coming together slowly but surely."
"I'll be going to Darwin and will have horses going, but I won't be focusing on it like I have been for the last 12 or 13 years.
- Neil Dyer
Dyer had 11 different runners in Darwin this year, with his Darwin Cup starter Kaonic finishing fourth behind Highly Decorated, who was ridden to victory by former Bendigo and Kyneton jockey Jessie Philpot.
Dyer's latest win arrived on Saturday courtesy of his developing stayer In Bel's Shadow at Benalla.
Confidently ridden to victory by Hannah Le Blanc, the five-year-old mare was able to break her maiden at start number 19 over the 2046m trip.
Dyer said the Bel Esprit mare had been the ultimate 'patience' job, but had been working nicely towards a breakthrough.
"They (the owners) bought her as a yearling for $40,000 at the Classic sale in Sydney - he's five now and is a little different to the normal Bel Esprit's, where she's got a lovely temper and is relaxed and casual," he said.
"She's just taken her time to develop as a stayer, but she has been working up to it.
"Her last few runs have suggested she wasn't too far away from getting there - thankfully she did.
"I haven't looked at anything yet for her, her last couple of runs I've spaced and it's seemed to work, so we'll try that again instead of rushing her off to the races again straight away."
Her win followed on the heels of two last month with the five-year-old staying mare Svaneke, who has since gone for a well-deserved spell.
"She's no world-beater, but she's honest and there will be more races in her for sure," he said of the daughter of Magnus, who has won two of 14 starts and been placed four times.
Dyer has Latest Bentley among the nominations at Geelong on Boxing Day, with the eight-year-old gelding returning from a 24-week spell.
Read more: Like mother, like son for Latest Bentley
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