Saunter Boy Prevails in Dramatic Grand National Hurdle

Mark Smith - Sunday August 7

There would be few bigger fans of former shuttler Myboycharlie (FR) than Ciaron Maher who trained the triple Group 1 winner Jameka and along with David Eustace puts the polish on the French import Saunter Boy (FR).

Saunter Boy in full flight (image Grant Courtney)

Carrying the colours of Australian Bloodstock, the 10yo gelding entered the millionaire ranks when guided by Steven Pateman to a three-quarter length success over St Arnicca (Canford Cliffs) in Sunday’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown.

Advertisement

Carrying the steadier of 71kgs and conceding the runner-up 7kgs, Saunter Boy was on tired legs in the later stages as fans willed him home.

After failing to finish in the race twelve months ago, Saunter Boy has been near unbeatable over the hurdles since.

Pateman told racing.com he thought he had gone too early.

“I went early on him, he jumped the third last really well and I capitalized on that a bit, and he really wound up and it was a long way from home,” Pateman said.

What a glorious sight (image Grant Courtney)

“I thought, ‘I’ve put all my eggs in one basket here.’

“I’ve never ridden a horse that’s just so good at Sandown down the hill. I thought I was very lonely after the last, but he had a fight in him anyway. He was great today.

“Today was the grand final and we got it. You beauty!”

Well tried in Europe before initially finding a home with Kris Lees in Australia, the son of Myboycharlie (FR) advances his record to 15 wins, six seconds, and five thirds with earnings of $1,075,680.

Purchased by David Redvers for €120,000 at the 2014 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Saunter Boy went through the 2015 Arc Sale where Crispin De Moubray picked him up for €45,000.

Three years later he went through the Goffs London Sale where he was unsold when bidding stopped at €160,000.

Placed in all three starts at two in France for Mikel Delzangles, Saunter Boy proved a solid performer for David Menuisier and later Ian Williams.

He won races at Goodwood, Newmarket (x2), Doncaster (x2), and Compiegne, and was stakes-placed in France.

After making ten starts for Kris Lees without troubling the scorer, Saunter Boy found his niche in life over the hurdles for Maher and Eustice.

The 10yo veteran is a half-brother to the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte winner Marathon Man, a rare European stakes winner for So You Think.

His dam Marie des Fleurs (Smart Strike is a half-sister to stakes-winner Anazone (Anabaa) out of the Verglas mare Ozone Bere whose nine wins included the Group III Gallorette Hcp.

Advertisment

Race Result - Grand National Hurdle 4200m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Soft(6) Time: 5:12.49
1
Saunter Boy
- 10g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Marie Des Fleurs (FR) (Smart Strike (CAN))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: S Pateman 71
2
0.8
St Arnicca
- 6g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Spartica (AUS) (Spartacus (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: William Mc Carthy 64
3
3.1
Blandford Lad
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Staryn Glenn (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: Aaron Mitchell 65
4
13.0
Onset
- 8m Reset (AUS) x Olnistto (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: E V Musgrove Rdr: Richard O'Donoghue 64
5
21.0
The Cossack
- 9g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Stellardelmar (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: P Nelson & C McDougal Rdr: S Phelan 71
6
46.0
Dr Dependable
- 8g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Reliability (AUS) (Kurofune (USA))
Tnr: E V Musgrove Rdr: Chris Mc Carthy 64
More Reading...
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
First Stakes-Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Back at Coolmore Australia this spring for his fourth season, 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark‘s Basilica (Fr) is on the board with his first stakes-winner after Thesecretadversary rolled the favourite to win the Listed Churchill Stakes (7 ½ f) at Tipperary overnight.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.