Suliman proves perfect replacement for stablemate forced out of Grand National Hurdles
The twelve-year-old gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) under his
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NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Suliman's win brings joy after deflation: John Jenkins
'Fortunately we were able to put the horses out in a good grass paddock in the middle of the Blenheim racecourse and so they have been able to pick up a bit,' Nelson said. Suliman prevailed in one of the most intense Grand National Hurdle finishes in years, outlasting three others by a bare nose margin at the finish of the 4200m stamina test. The 12-year-old is owned by the I See Red Syndicate and the same combination also races the high-class jumper Dictation. That horse was a dominant winner of the Sydenham Hurdles on the first day of this year's Grand National meeting and would have started one of the favourites for the Grand National Hurdles had an injury not prevented him from starting. The large group of jumping enthusiasts that make up the I See Red Syndicate were left devastated when told that Dictation had suffered a minor tear to a suspensory ligament in winning the Sydenham and would need months of recuperation before he could race again. Many members of the syndicate, which numbers 26, had made bookings to be in Christchurch for Grand National week but were left deflated when, what appeared to be their top chance, wouldn't get to contest the race. But the syndicate still had a representative in Suliman, a horse that had finished only a moderate fifth in the Sydenham on the first day but who Nelson expected to improve dramatically from that run. Nelson felt Suliman wasn't ridden to his best advantage in the Sydenham and probably found track conditions a bit too firm for his liking that day. The expected rain leading up to last Saturday was certainly going to enhance his chances. The rain came and the Riccarton track, although providing loose footing, became extremely heavy and it was always going to be a survival of the fittest. The Nelson/McDougal stable definitely know how to get horses ready-fit for tough jumping assignments and Suliman was certainly up for it after months of preparation over the hills at the Nelsons' Air Hill Stud property combined with six lead-up races. And so it proved, with Suliman prevailing in a four-horse war over the final stages of last Saturday's race to score a nose victory over Quid, with a length back to third-placed Happy Star and only a head back to Mr Fabulous in fourth. 'We got quite a few of the syndicate down here on course for the win and there was plenty of celebrating done on Saturday night,' Nelson said. Suliman has now won eight races from 31 starts and more than $342,000 in stakemoney. The Redwood gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) to his credit along with a Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) victory on the flat but had mixed his form in recent times after resuming following a year off after a bleeding attack suffered during the 2023 edition of the Grand National Hurdles. Jockey Hamish McNeill adopted much more positive tactics in last Saturday's race than in the Sydenham, having the horse tracking the leaders from the outset. Rounding the turn, Happy Star and Mr Fabulous were disputing the pace but Suliman and McNeill were in hot pursuit while Quid and race-favourite Berry The Cash chased gamely, but were several lengths adrift. Mr Fabulous was in front after jumping the last fence but Suliman closed resolutely to hit the lead with 100m to run and managed to stave off the challengers. Nelson thought his charge may have been beaten in the shadows of the post. 'I was a little bit doubtful that he had got there although I got assured he had pretty quickly,' Nelson said. 'That was just great. The track being as bad as it was helped him, as when he won the Wellington Hurdles the track was horrible and he just kept going. 'Any race win is good but a National is just wonderful. 'The syndicate who race this guy have been with me for 20 years. It was a shame for them when Dictation came out but this will have fixed that.' It was Paul Nelson's fifth success in the Grand National Hurdles. He produced Just A Swagger for back-to-back victories in 2004 and 2005 and Just Not Cricket to win in 2008 while he had McDougal as a training partner when they won the race in 2021 with The Cossack. It equalled the modern-day record of Kevin Myers, whose five wins in the race have been with Lucky Tip (2002), Mahanadi (2013), Tallyho Twinkletoes (2015), Ngario (2016) and Happy Star (2022). 'We don't try and break records but we just like to win races,' Nelson said. With the Grand National features run and won, the jumping focus now turns to the newly instated Great New Zealand Jumps Carnival, run at Te Aroha on September 19 and 21. Nelson said he was unsure how many runners the stable will have over the two days, but champion jumper The Cossack and Taika are two likely to be there. Both horses had a run in a 2200m flat race at Rotorua on Wednesday, with Taika finishing seventh and The Cossack ninth. 'I only got to see the race on my phone but they both seemed to go okay so we will see how they are over the next few days,' Nelson said. At this stage both horses are expected to race next at Te Aroha on August 31, The Cossack contesting the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) and Taika in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3250m). Waipukurau Cup part of new country series The Waipukurau Cup, the feature race when racing returns to the Waipukurau track on November 16, will be part of a seven-race Country Cups series run during this year's spring and summer months. Known as the Prezzy Card Country Cups Bonus Series, the races will be run between October and December with points attached to each and a $50,000 winner-take-all bonus at the end. The DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup will be the fifth race in the series and will be a Rating 75 race over 2100m. The stake for the race will be $35,000, an increase of $10,000 on the last time it was run. The Country Cups series is a new initiative from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in conjunction with the Taupō Racing Club with the seven races run on various North Island racetracks. Horses will earn points for a top four finish and are required to contest at least three of the races in the series, including the $100,000 Harcourts Taupō Cup (2000m). Points will be allocated on a basis of five for a win, three for a second, two for a third and one for a fourth in the first six races but will be increased to 12 for the winner, five for second, three for third and two for fourth in the Taupō Cup. Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series races: Saturday, October 4: $80,000 Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata. $80,000 Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata. Friday, October 10: $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupō. $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupō. Sunday, October 19: $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley. $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley. Saturday, November 1: $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. Sunday, November 16: $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau. $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau. Friday, December 12: $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga. $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga. Sunday, December 28: $100,000 Harcourts Taupō Cup (2000m) at Taupō. Successful trials on Awapuni track A return to racing on Awapuni's grass track is getting closer after it passed its first test for that return following a successful set of trials on the surface on Tuesday. Thirty horses lined up over five heats at the track and RACE's general manager of racing, Brad Taylor, received positive reports at the conclusion of the trial meeting. 'The feedback was very positive from the riders,' he said. 'As expected, with the surface we have, there was a little bit of the sand kicking back but all-in-all it was very positive.' Awapuni's grass track was initially out of commission for 19 months as it underwent an extensive renovation, and it was set to commence racing on Anzac Day. However, that meeting was abandoned following a horse slipping in the opening race. The track has subsequently undergone further remedial work, and the club has called upon the expertise of Flemington track manager Liam O'Keefe to assist in that process. Another set of trials will be run on the Awapuni track within the next fortnight and that will determine whether they can proceed with the planned return to racing on September 6.
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- NZ Herald
Suliman proves perfect replacement for stablemate forced out of Grand National Hurdles
Veteran hurdler Suliman turned back the clock to his former glory days when he proved toughest in a four-horse war at the finish of the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton. The twelve-year-old gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) under his
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Kwanza's Woodville maiden win a highlight for many reasons: John Jenkins
McDougal was pleased to bring up the milestone, particularly having been a part of Kwanza's journey since he was a foal at the Nelson's Airhill Stud property. 'Not too long ago, we were looking through the Hawke's Bay trainers and what their winners were, and I had 97 at that stage, so it was coming up,' she said. 'It was nice to get there.' Last Sunday's race proved a much easier watch for McDougal than her first winner. That was Kipling, who finished second over the line in a maiden highweight at Hastings in April 2007, before being promoted to first. That Sir Sian gelding carried the familiar chocolate, blue and yellow colours of Peter Grieve, a long-term supporter of McDougal. 'I trained him for Peter Grieve and Johnny Frizzell, and I've had a lot of winners in Peter's colours. 'Peter has given me a go right from the start, just when I was getting my trainer's licence, and has backed me all the way through.' Before joining Nelson in partnership in 2018, McDougal prepared 17 winners in her own right, with another legend of the jumping game, Mark Oulaghan, initially showing her the ropes during her brief time in Palmerston North. 'I took a year off after school because I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I ended up going to teachers' college in Palmerston North. I worked for Mark Oulaghan while I was there, so that's where I first got into racing.' McDougal was 21 years old when she first stepped through the gates at the Nelson's Airhill Stud property, with a mix of show jumpers and racehorses to work with at that stage. She stepped out on her own for a couple of years, working and training for Grieve, before her life came crashing down in 2007, when she was diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (Hus), a blood condition that leads to renal failure. It was later realised that she would require a kidney transplant. That failed on the first attempt, leaving McDougal self-managing daily dialysis while waiting on a combined liver and kidney transplant. Three years later, she was able to have the second transplant. That was successful and McDougal now enjoys a normal life, where she is active and able to ride their stable's talented team of horses in training. 'Everything has been really good since the transplant. I haven't had any issues and the doctors have been happy,' she said. 'I am more susceptible to skin cancers and bits and pieces like that, but that's about it. 'I've been here for 10 years permanently, and I love riding every day. I think I would find it hard training from the ground. I like jumping on and getting a feel for the horse. 'I'm probably not as brave as I used to be, though.' Of the 83 victories she has collected alongside Nelson, 24 have been prestige races, including five of the past six editions of the Wellington Hurdle (3200m), and three of the past five runnings of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), with names such as The Cossack, Nedwin, No Tip and Perry Mason associated with the stable. They have consistently been among the country's leading jumps trainers and took the top spot in the 2021/22 season with 19 winners and an incredible strike rate of 2.37. 'I love seeing the horses come through right from a foal, as Kwanza did,' McDougal said. 'He actually had cellulitis early on in his leg, so we had to fix that up. Then seeing him through breaking in, training, racing, and now winning, it's pretty cool.' Kwanza was ridden to victory last Sunday by Jonathan Riddell, who has played an integral part in the hugely successful Hawke's Bay stable – initially when Nelson trained on his own and then later with McDougal in partnership. Riddell, 46, was delighted that he was able to bring up McDougal's century of wins, because the two go back many years. 'Jonathan has played a huge part in my career,' McDougal said. 'He and I used to showjump ponies when we were young, and he's been there all the way along. He rode for me before I came to Paul and Carol's, so it was quite nice to get that 100th winner with him.' Riddell recently chalked up his 1000th career win, and Kwanza brought up win number 989 in New Zealand. 'I want to get to 1000 New Zealand wins before I give it away,' Riddell said on Sunday. Big plans ahead for Fourty Eight The Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) has always been the major target for Fourty Eight this preparation, and the hopes of reaching the iconic race took a massive step forward at Woodville last Sunday when the 6-year-old gelding took out the Cody Singer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) in convincing fashion. Raced by a large contingent of owners, including his Wairoa breeder Sheena Martin and several other Hawke's Bay people, Fourty Eight had been suffering from feet issues over the past couple of months. Trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin thought, at one stage, their hopes of getting to the Great Northern were dashed. But Fourty Eight revived those hopes with a front-running display when scoring his maiden steeplechase victory by four-and-three-quarter lengths over Mr Fabulous, with a further 30-and-three-quarter lengths back to Muse in third. 'It was a good result,' said Shaun Fannin, who also rode the gelding. 'He does have a fair bit of ability, but he just can be a bit temperamental sometimes. 'He doesn't have great feet, but we have got a good farrier and we have managed to keep on top of them and get him back on track.' Another hurdle assignment is looming for Fourty Eight, with Fannin not ruling out their initial target of the Great Northern in September. Meanwhile, it was a bittersweet moment for Fannin when riding champion jumper West Coast to a courageous runner-up result behind Smug in the Glenanthony Simmentals Stud Hawke's Bay Steeplechase (4800m). 'He was unreal, he is just a champion,' Fannin said. 'He has carried 73 kilos start after start. 'I thought I was almost beaten at the 600m, and then we got over the third-to-last [fence] and he found another gear, like he always does. It's only in the last couple of strides that Smug came back and beat me.' Fannin will have to hop off West Coast in next month's Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) to ride his own stable runner Jesko in the Riccarton feature. West Coast, with Fannin aboard, has won the past three editions of the race, and the trainer said he isn't looking forward to facing off against the champion jumper for the first time. 'I have always been on his back, and he gives you so much confidence, so it will be a very different feeling going out against him,' he said. 'It is not something I am looking forward to.' HBPB annual weanling walk More than 20 young horses will be on display at the Hawke's Bay/Poverty Bay Thoroughbred Breeders annual weanling walk tour to be held on Sunday, July 27. The official weanling tour will begin at 10am at Wainui Farm, on Rosser Rd, where Richard McKenzie and Jordan Barrett will have four weanlings on show. The second stop will be at 10.30am at Keltern Stud, on State Highway 50, to look at be 11 weanlings and yearlings that have been handled by the team at Carlton Lodge. The tour then goes on to Guy and Brigid Lowry's Kiwikawa property on Kawera Rd at 11.30am where a further seven weanlings will be on display. The tour will finish with a 12.30pm lunch at Valley d'Vine Restaurant at Eskdale, where a silent auction of several donated items will also be held. Luncheon reservations are essential and can be made by emailing tracy@ National breeding awards July 26 The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding community will come together on Saturday, July 26, to celebrate another year of excellence at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge. The evening will acknowledge 24 individual winners of 37 Group 1 races, as breeders can again take pride in the global success of horses with the NZ suffix. The recently crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Ka Ying Rising, and Australian star Mr Brightside will be among the leading contenders for the Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year, with triple Group 1 winner El Vencedor, in a nod to the calibre of equine produced. 'The National Breeding Awards remain the premier occasion to celebrate the exceptional achievements of New Zealand breeders and horses,' said NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association chief executive Nick Johnson.
