Charred chalks up first steeple success

[Wandering Eyes]

Charred’s tough victory in the K.T Myers Racing Stables Steeplechase (3500m) at Rotorua marked a number of firsts for trainer Paul Mirabelli and jockey Corey Wiles.

Based out of Cambridge, Mirabelli has enjoyed success in the hurdle role including the 2021 Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m) with The Midnight Shift, but was yet to score with a representative over the bigger fences until Sunday’s contest.

Charred (NZ) (Guillotine) had been a work in progress for Mirabelli and often mixed his jumping in previous starts, but put on a much more professional display in the maiden event, negotiating his fences tidily under Wiles.

The $1.50 favourite Invisible Spirit led through much of the opening lap before Uncle Charlie took over, with the entirety of the field remaining in close quarters until reaching the 800 metre mark. Khafeef sped to the lead and looked like he may have Invisible Spirit and Charred covered over the second-last fence, but the big grey found plenty in the final 100 metres and caught Khafeef in the shadow of the post, scoring by a long head.

Mirabelli was equally thrilled for the horse as he was for 21-year-old Wiles, who picked up his first win as a jumps jockey with the success.

“It was fantastic, I’ve won a couple of hurdle races before but that was my first steeplechase victory, and it was Corey’s as well,” he said.

“I was impressed with how he rode this horse, obviously his jumping can be a bit indifferent and Corey’s positive riding into the fences seemed to help him.

“He deserved to stay on him to try and get the win, he really tries and does it quite tough with his weight, so he deserves the success he’s going to get.”

A four-race winner on the flat, Charred was having his ninth attempt over fences and third in the steeplechasing role, with the win coming as a reward for patience from Mirabelli.

“It’s been a bit of a long process with this horse’s jumping because he hasn’t been super natural at it,” he said.

“Every time we’ve gone to the races he’s improved a bit more, so it was good to see him show that today.

“Going forward, we’ll probably go down to Hawera next Sunday, and then onto the Great Northern.”

A son of Guillotine, Charred was bred by Carl Ferguson, who races the nine-year-old with Eddie Carrasco.

His dam, Dancing Embers, has produced three race winners including Firestorm, who Mirabelli prepared to run a classy sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) last November, before being sold to clients of Chris Waller.

“Dancing Embers has been a really good broodmare and most of her foals have won races, Carl keeps breeding from her and so far they’ve had plenty of success,” Mirabelli said.

“Charred has won 5, Ember Attack won two or three and obviously Firestorm has been very good, she was sold to Australia and ran in the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m).

“The best is hopefully yet to come from the mare, it’s been a good ride so far.”

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