Jesko completes stunning season with Great New Zealand crown

[Wandering Eyes]

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.

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