Redwood Jumper Headed to Australia

Media Release - Thursday May 12

John Wheeler has enjoyed phenomenal success in Australia’s prestige jumping events and the New Plymouth trainer is keen on another winter trip across the Tasman.

He has multiple victories in the Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m) and the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) while major jumping victories in Melbourne include the Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) and the Hiskens Steeplechase (3700m).

Chief Sequoyah on his way to winning at Wanganui on Thursday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Wheeler is now eyeing another tilt at the Grand National with rising star Chief Sequoyah, who produced an impressive display to win on debut over the big fences in the Ken Duncan Racing Open Steeplechase (3800m) at Wanganui today.

The Redwood seven-year-old settled a clear last under a patient ride from Sam O’Malley, who urged the gelding forward 1000m from home.

They were in front at the penultimate flight, cleared the last effortlessly, and went to the line full of running to score by 4-1/2 lengths.

“He didn’t make a mistake and he’s a good jumper. I was getting him ready for the Grand Annual at Warrnambool, but our tracks were that hard he was starting to feel them,” said part-owner Wheeler.

“I thought I’d leave him and once we get a bit of rain I’d give him a run. I’ll probably look at going to Melbourne with him in a month’s time and look at the Grand National, that’s in July so I’ve got a bit of time but I won’t be asking him to do too much before then.”

Wheeler went close to a winning jumps double today with Quaff, also in the hands of O’Malley, finishing runner-up in the Wanganui Function Centre Open Hurdle (3000m).

“Quaff will improve significantly, he over-raced a bit and was fresh and still quite big in condition so I was really pleased with his run. He’ll probably go to Melbourne as well for some hurdle races.”

Advertisement

Chief Sequoyah won three times over the smaller fences last winter, including the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) having joined Wheeler’s team after winning two on the flat for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who remains in the ownership group.

Another former Marsh-prepared flat winner Oso Savvy is also with Wheeler to prepare for a jumping career.

“I’m very happy with him and he jumps super. He looks like a good horse, I just had a bit of trouble with him,” Wheeler said.

“He’s not unsound or anything, I think he was maybe a bit jarred up after the summer racing and he is just coming right now as the tracks soften, he’s got no blemishes.”

While Wheeler will be firming up Victorian jumping plans for Chief Sequoyah and Quaff in the coming weeks, he will also keep an eye on the progress of his former charge Le Villi.

The Puccini filly won two of her five starts for Wheeler and finished sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) before Australian Bloodstock purchased her.

“My number one owner Tommy Carroll owned her outright and she’s a pretty good horse so we’ll be keeping an eye on her over there,” Wheeler said.

Le Villi finished seventh in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in her first appearance for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and is currently a $27 chance for the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.