Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
Australia’s champion trainer for 2024/2025 was Ciaron Maher and he combined with Steve Pateman to win the Crisp Steeplechase with seasoned campaigner Stern Idol (IRE).
Stepped up to the bigger jumps this year, he has welcomed the challenge to win by 15 lengths and has now won 16 of 37 starts.
Stern Idol has won his last four starts in row and winning rider Steve Pateman says he has never felt better.
A nine 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.
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 four year-old.
She has unnamed fillies to follow by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Lucky Vega (IRE) and lost a foal born deceased last year.
Trainer Shane Jackson and his family were overwhelmed with joy when their six year-old Highland Reel (IRE) gelding Highland Blaze led all the way to win the GN Hurdle taking his overall record to eight wins and 13 placings from 40 starts with prizemoney topping $522,000.
Ridden by Jordan Hart, Highland Blaze seized the opportunity when short-priced favourite The Cunning Fox was under hard riding with 1600m to go and lost his spot before being pulled up. Racing Victoria stewards reported The Cunning Fox had suffered cardiac arrhythmia.
Highland Blaze was a handy flat stayer that contested the Victoria Derby won by Manzoice and later that season he was second in the Listed VRC St Leger.
His victory was an emotional one for Shane Jackson and his family.
By champion Galileo’s six time G1 winner Highland Blaze, who shuttled to Victoria for five seasons, Highland Blaze is the best of three winners from metro winning Clangalang mare Bells of Troy.
