Familiar Faces Win $100,000 Jumps Features at Sandown

Tara Madgwick - Sunday June 1

Jumps racing took centre stage at Sandown on Sunday with some familiar colours and faces winning both the $100,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and the $100,000 Australian Hurdle (3900m).

The Cunning Fox in full flight - image Grant Courtney

Joe’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds win a lot of flat races all over the country, but one of their most successful graduates has been Kiwi bred Reliable Man (GB) gelding The Cunning Fox.

Trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, The Cunning Fox ran out a two length winner of the Australian Hurdle taking his overall record to 11 wins and six placings from 36 starts banking over $700,000 in prizemoney

The Cunning Fox owners celebrate - image Grant Courtney

The Cunning Fox was purchased as a yearling for $34,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from Valiant Stud.

He has won three of his past four starts and is flying over the jumps this year.

Stern Idol is back in winning form - image Grant Courtney

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has some of the best racehorses in the country in his care and he also has champion jumper Stern Idol (IRE), who was back in winning form on Sunday after chasing home The Cunning Fox in recent starts in hurdle races.

Advertisement

Stepped up to the bigger jumps he welcomed the challenge to win by three quarters of a length and has now won 13 of 34 starts.

An eight year-old Irish bred gelding by Raven’s Pass that came to Australia in 2021 following some early racing in France that produced two wins and some pretty handy efforts in hurdle races, Stern Idol has soared to new heights in his new home.

Carrying the colours of his Australian owner and breeder Gerry Ryan, who races him in partnership with a bunch of close mates, Stern Idol is the best of three winners from Authorized mare Screen Icon (IRE), an unplaced full sister to imported stayer Signoff (IRE), who won multiple Group staying races in Australia for Gerry Ryan and partners.

Stern Idol might not be the Cups horse his owners were hoping for, but he's a good horse nevertheless - image Grant Courtney

Screen Icon is now also in Australia and arrived in foal to high class sire Night of Thunder with a colt from that mating now an unnamed three year-old.

She has fillies to follow by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Lucky Vega (IRE) and lost a foal born deceased last year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Australian Hrdl 3900m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Soft(7) Time: 4:35.41
1
The Cunning Fox
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Cross Rate (IRE) (Green Tune (USA))
Tnr: Patrick & Michelle Payne Rdr: T Ryan 71
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $34,000
Seller: Valiant Stud, Aberdeen, NSW
Buyer: Prime Thoroughbreds
2
1.8
Highland Blaze
- 5g Highland Reel (IRE) x Bells Of Troy (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: Shane Jackson Rdr: Jordan Hart 65
3
2.5
Affluential
- 6g Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: J Leek Jnr Rdr: W Gordon 70
NZB Karaka Book 1 $140,000
Seller: Grangewilliam Stud
Buyer: John Chalmers Bloodstock Services
4
4
Bitcoin
- 5g Tarzino (NZ) x Invisible Coin (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Jessica Pateman Rdr: William Mc Carthy 65
5
10
Port Guillaume
- 8g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: A Lynch 66
6
11.8
Right Now
- 6g Wrote (IRE) x Max Facta (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: S B Laming Rdr: Conor Brassil 66
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.