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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
This season’s breakout steeplechaser Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) put the icing on top of a phenomenal jumping campaign when outstaying his rivals in the inaugural Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. The son of Atlante started the season as a maidener over the bigger fences, but under the guidance of co-trainer and rider Shaun Fannin, the gelding swept through the ranks seamlessly with victories in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) and Koral Steeplechase (4250m), before a game second behind Captains Run in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in early August. He was set for a much-anticipated rematch with Captains Run in the feature, but the National winner was scratched late in the week, leaving Jesko a clear favourite at $2.90 ahead of Run Jakko Run ($5.40) and Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) winner Nedwin ($5.60). Jesko has often found himself in the pacemaking role this year but it was his stablemate Fourty Eight who broke quickly from the barriers, skipping over the first of 25 fences and leading the field into a marathon three laps of the Te Aroha course. The experienced field put on a beautiful display of jumping through the first two laps, albeit a couple of those racing keenly, which began to tell as runners began to tire in the final circuit. Fannin had remained close to the speed aboard Jesko and he was right in contention along the back straight, where Nedwin had taken over and looked to be travelling boldly, before dipping on landing and dropping Hamish McNeill at the fourth-to-last fence. Jesko needed a little bit of encouragement from Fannin to pick up near the 800m, but as he always does, the gelding found another gear and hit the lead a long way from home. His main danger was one of the outsiders, Mr Fabulous, who gave a sight under Bella Oliver, but Jesko showed his class late, navigating the final two fences and powering to the line to score by 4 – ¾ lengths. Mr Fabulous put in a career-best effort to finish second, with 2021 Northern winner Te Kahu returning to near his best form in third. Fannin added a first Great New Zealand crown to his six Great Northern wins in the saddle, and this was undoubtably that little bit more special, having prepared the gelding alongside his wife Hazel Fannin. “It’s something out of this world, he hasn’t been an easy horse the whole way through,” he said. “We always had a bit of confidence that he would stay and he jumped well at home from the start. “He was quite keen for the first couple of laps and dropped the bridle at the worst possible time down the back, but I gave him a couple and he picked up underneath me. When Nedwin fell, he scooted past him and off we went again. “I was worried I might’ve been left in front a long way out, but carrying the 70kgs, you’ve got to keep them up to the mark there and he was tough in the finish. “It’s only his first season this year, so you’d think they’ll only get better with the more they do.” Hazel Fannin, also a successful jockey in her own right, watched on with pride as the pair took the lion’s share of the $200,000 stake. “It’s a real testament to how tough this horse is, the last six weeks have been an uphill battle so I’m so proud of him,” she said. “As I’ve said before, he’ll always come off the bridle at about the 800 and then finds again, and we always thought he would see out this distance, so it’s nice to see that he did. “The greatest thing about him is his jumping ability, he just skips through his fences, he can get it a bit wrong and still accelerates away. It’s just exciting to have a horse as good as him in the stable.” Jesko gained a large following through the season, particularly with fractional syndication company The FRAC Club coming into his ownership group, and the Te Aroha crowd was packed with supporters of the eight-year-old. “It’s gone to another level this season with the FRAC Club, and we’ve brought on Graham Bruton and Matt Hill in Australia, I’m sure he’ll be watching closely,” Shaun Fannin said. “What a wonderful story with all the people involved and we’ve got so many people here to enjoy it with us, which makes it all the more special.” Bred by Goodwood Stud, Jesko was purchased by Fannin for just $3,300 in late 2021, and four years later, the gelding has accumulated $355,350 in prizemoney with nine victories in 27 starts. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
There was no disguising what winning Sunday’s time-honoured Duke Of Gloucester Cup (2200m) meant to amateur rider Caitlin Rennie as she crossed the line victorious aboard Joejoeccini (NZ) (Puccini). The 21-year-old had partnered the Sam Mynott-trained galloper in a similar event at Te Aroha at the end of August when finishing into third, and chasing her first success in the saddle, her mount was well-backed closing second favourite behind Autumn Beauty. Rennie allowed Joejoeccini to stride forward from the gate and sat outside the leader in Leprekhan early, before easing back in the one-one alongside Carignan. The pace was genuine along the back straight and there was challengers lined across the track as they turned for home, with Joejoeccini and Rennie hitting the front early. In A Pickle and series leader Abhay Seesa looked the big danger coming through the centre and Smokin Mo was powering down the outside, but Rennie lifted her charge in the shadows of the post, pumping her fist in the air as they took the iconic event by half a length. She was all smiles returning to the winner’s circle, having her parents and well-known racing identities Kim Clapperton and Andy Rennie on course to celebrate the result. “I couldn’t be more thrilled, it’s super special to have Mum and Dad here today, which is probably the most important thing,” Rennie said. “Sam (Mynott) has supported me from the minute I got there, she set this horse up for this race and it’s a massive honour to be able to pull it off for her.” While Rennie was delighted to take the race described by visiting race caller Ric McIntosh as the ‘Melbourne Cup for Amateur Riders’, it was also a sense of redemption for the young hoop, having had a difficult ride aboard stablemate Linkin Park at the Te Aroha meeting on Friday. “I had a bit of making up to do after Friday’s performance, so I’m glad to get this one across the line,” she said. “It still looked pretty rough in the last 100, but we got up on the line and that’s the main thing. The horse tries so hard, it was a bit wet for him last time but he still gave it his all for third, and today he’s dug deep.” Mynott, who prepares the five-year-old out of Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier for Rennie. “We’ve redeemed ourselves now, I’m stoked with that,” she said. “We put a plan in motion a couple of months ago with this horse, and it’s her (Rennie) first win, so it’s awesome for the whole team. “I said to either land in the one-one or sit outside the lead, and it’s a long straight so be patient. She’s ridden it out, it was a good finish and she’s worked hard for this, so I’m really proud of her. “It’s pretty cool, I’ve still got a bit of the shakes, so we’ll be having a drink tonight for sure.” While Seesa had to settle for second in the feature, he won the Waitoa Haulage Maiden (2200m) aboard Tempest Moon earlier in the card, and secured the series title with four wins from 11 rides across the season. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Cambridge Stud owned mare Joliestar (Zoustar) pulled off a stunning win in the Gr.2 Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, beating fellow Everest contenders Briasa and Private Harry despite sitting back without cover throughout. The Chris Waller-trained mare, who hadn’t run since a similarly unbelievable win in June’s Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, was set a task when drifting to the tail and sitting four lanes from the fence but still slid into the race with purpose. Joliestar ($4.80) and Briasa ($3.10) set off to fight the race out, but the former always looked the more likely and got the job done, making a big statement a month out from the A$20 million Everest. She quickly shortened from $13 to $7 in Everest betting after the win. “She was awesome. She’s come back well, and she’s four weeks out from a very big race,” Waller said. “We haven’t asked her (to do a lot) to be truthful, but I can see a more mature horse now. “I’ve seen the horse trial well, and I’ve just got an all-around more confident horse, so we were confident. We knew from the draw was going to be tricky, so our plan was just to come back, find some cover. We didn’t get the cover, but we didn’t need it.” James McDonald was never worried in running, even if Joliestar’s backers may have been, with his only goal to keep his mount comfortable, no matter where she ended up in the run. And even when this eventuated as four-wide with no cover, McDonald didn’t alter tactics and his faith was rewarded handsomely. “I only had one objective. It was just to get her in a smooth rhythm. I didn’t want a stop-start affair,” he said. “She slid around, albeit deep, but what I was thinking was that Briasa was the one to beat and he was just inside me. “It wasn’t like he was on the fence and I was four-wide. He was not far off me, and she was game as anything. She’s a solid horse that runs seven furlongs, so she can do that. That was thrilling because she deserves a spot in The Everest. I think she’ll make her presence felt.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will miss Friday night’s Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley after suffering an untimely foot abscess. Co-trainer Ben Hayes explained connections are still hopeful of gaining a slot in next month’s A$20 million The Everest, with War Machine now likely to run first-up either at Flemington or Randwick early next month. “He got a very minor foot abscess so he missed a week, which put us on the back foot, so he’ll probably run now in the Gilgai,” Hayes said. “He’ll run Turnbull Day (October 4) at Flemington or in Sydney in the (Gr.2) Premiere (1000m), so he’ll be dual accepted that day and we’ll choose which will be the best race for him. “We were very happy with him, he was going great. He’s trialing again next Thursday and then he should be spot on for the straight race or up in Sydney.” Another Lindsay Park horse returning from a setback is Gr.1 hopeful Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto), who is set to have his first run since his Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (fifth) effort more than a month ago. “Evaporate, he runs next week in the (Gr.3) Sandown Stakes,” Hayes said. “He got a little virus and we needed to back off him but he had a trial (at Flemington) on Friday and he’s all back on track.” Meanwhile Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is unlikely to be matched up against super mares Treasurethe Moment and Pride Of Jenni at The Valley on Friday night, with connections preferring to concentrate on his ultimate spring goal in Sydney next month. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said while the stable was tempted to take the last-start Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) hero to the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes on Friday night, the plan now revolves around getting to the A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18 in the best possible order. “He pulled up great but a couple of years ago we went straight into the King Charles and we just got beaten, so we’ll follow that recipe,” Hayes said. “He’s got a great record there (Randwick mile) and he’s got five weeks to it. “He’ll trial on the same day in Sydney as Ka Ying Rising on the 7th (of October) and then go to the King Charles ready to turn in his best.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Improving stayer Comedy (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) knocked off a Rating 75 victory at just the second time of asking with an impressive performance at Trentham on Saturday. The Harvey Wilson-trained seven-year-old was among the better-backed runners in the Manawatu Toyota and John Turkington Forestry LTD 2100, but punters were picking a two-horse race between Gr.3 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopefuls McKhan and Just Charlie, closing at $3.50 and $3.30 respectively. Continuing his association with in-form apprentice jockey Liam Kauri, Comedy jumped well from barrier three and settled one off the fence in the back half of the field, while McKhan and Tai pushed forward to contest the early lead. McKhan took up his usual pacemaking role and dictated the tempo in front, and while there was a host of chances turning for home, Comedy looked to be travelling sweetly for Kauri and found the front at the 200m. The son of Mongolian Khan kept finding in the closing stages and powered through the line, while the favourite Just Charlie struggled to find clear air and was unable to challenge until late in the contest, finishing fourth with a strong So Call Me and Deadly Pony filling the placings. Kauri, who has already ridden 12 winners in the seven weeks of the new season and is one victory off losing his three-kilogram claim, had been confident in his mount a long way from home. “He was bolting a long way out and when I asked him to go, he didn’t want to stop,” he said. “He was strong through the line. “I didn’t want to get buried on the fence, the way the track is playing you don’t want to get caught napping.” The 26-year-old has guided Comedy to three wins and three placings from nine starts, and Wilson was pleased to see Saturday’s race pan out just as they had planned. “He was in the perfect position, he’s better to be out a little bit and we were happy at the top of the straight,” Wilson said. The Waverley horseman, also known for his prowess preparing jumpers, said schooling and farmwork had been involved in the gelding’s preparation, crediting his wife Ann with the success. “He does a bit around the farm, he’s schooled a couple of times with Nicole Sinclair and he’s galloped well lately,” he said. “Ann looks after him, I just do what I’m told and it works very well.” Bred by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry (NZ) Ltd, Comedy has earned over $108,000 for the Wilsons with four victories and nine placings from 27 attempts. View the full article
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