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West Australian
03-08-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Highland Blaze continues impressive form over obstacles, taking Grand National Hurdle for Irish duo
Highland Blaze continued his rise through the hurdling ranks, taking Sunday's Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown in arrogant fashion. Hitting the mile mark, race favourite The Cunning Fox ($2.40) began to rapidly retreat out of the contest and subsequently pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia. At the same time, Jordan Hart put the hammer down aboard Highland Blaze ($4.80) and took a significant margin out of his rivals, opening up by four lengths passing the 1200m. But jumping the final obstacle at the 300m, Right Now ($19) and the WA-owned Affluential ($4.60) had closed within a couple of lengths and were throwing down threats to the long-time leader. However, Highland Blaze was merely kidding them and again scampered away up the run-in, streaking home to a five-length success. It was just Hart's sixth career win from 64 rides and fellow Irishman, trainer Shane Jackson, only began outright training less than a year ago. 'What a horse. He came to me for the Jericho Cup and then has only had two weeks off,' Jackson said. 'He's done everything we've asked of him. What a superstar.' It was Jackson's 100th race starter but his 32nd winner, giving the former jockey an amazing strike rate and further enhancing his affinity with the event, having won it twice as a rider. He lauded the winning steer of Hart, saying he rode like a seasoned hoop. 'Brilliant for the jockey. He still claimed three kilos and he rode him like a professional,' Jackson said. 'He does a lot of work for me and he deserves his chance. He's ridden him perfectly every time.' Hart has now partnered Highland Blaze in all his runs over obstacles, reaping four wins and a second from five starts. 'I started working with (Jackson) just before Christmas and he told me Highland Blaze would be going over the hurdles next season, and if I put in the work, I'd get the ride,' Hart said. 'My parents would be watching (in Ireland). They'd still be shouting at the TV. I know they had the alarm set for themselves from yesterday.' Earlier, champion galloper Stern Idol ($1.08f) made light work of his opposition in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m), landing his third successive win in the event. The Ciaron Maher-trained nine-year-old took up the running and never looked like losing, easing down to the line with a 15-length buffer. The gelding equalled the tally of the Maher-trained Bashboy with 14 wins over obstacles, though Bashboy won the Crisp four times between 2012 and 2015. He may now enter the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 17 but has entered the contest in similar form over the last two years and failed to complete the course.
Courier-Mail
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Stern Idol gives Steven Pateman the full set in Australian Steeplechase win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Star jumper Stern Idol produced a sublime display – under a modern weight-carrying record – to win the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rated the Ciaron Maher-trained 73kg top weight perfectly in pursuit of a personal milestone, the previously elusive Australian Steeplechase crown. Pateman boasted just about every other domestic jumps feature, including Australian Hurdle (four), Grand National Steeple (four), Grand National Hurdle (four) and Grand Annual Steeple (three), but an Australian Steeplechase win had eluded him before Sunday. He largely dictated the Australian Steeple aboard Stern Idol from on or close to the speed and then fended off the gallant runner-up Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker, in the home straight. Not Usual Dream and Heir To The Throne rounded out the top four. Leaderboard enjoyed an economical steer from Will Gordon and 7kg weight advantage on Stern Idol. Pateman lauded Stern Idol's performance. 'I wasn't leading from the get go and I was happy for that to unfold,' Pateman said. '73kg leading all the way could've been his undoing. He was awesome. 'It was pretty lonely after the last with 73kg, knowing the second horse had (seven) kilos less. 'He was weighed down, he maintained the gallop but couldn't go any faster because of the weight. 'I was thinking 'I'd never won this race' … the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeple are absolutely time-honoured events, it's super special.' Steven Pateman gives Stern Idol a pat after winning the Australian Steeplechase. Photo:. Bit Of A Lad, saddled by Maher and former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, carried 70kg to win the 2020 Australian Steeple. Mazzacano (2009) lumped 69.5kg, while Thubiaan (2015) and Vindicating (2011) had 69kg handicaps. Pateman said Stern Idol benefited from a campaign – a flat run and two hurdle starts – tailored to the 'target' Australian Steeple. 'He could've run in steeplechases earlier in the year and carried big weights and might've won one but too hard all the time,' he said. 'Today was a target, the way he settled he knew where he was, he knew the trip he had to run out and he was really chill.' Sadly, Treasured Crown failed to finish and was humanely euthanized due a catastrophic leg injury. The second favourite sustained the injury upon landing after the second last jump. Jockey William McCarthy was uninjured. The Cunning Fox launches over a hurdle on his way to winning the Australian Hurdle. Photo:. Meanwhile, Australia's emerging jumps star The Cunning Fox claimed the Australian Hurdle (3900m) from Highland Blaze and Affluential. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained jumper is undefeated in six starts over the obstacles. The six-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by his regular rider Tom Ryan. Originally published as Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
Herald Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Stern Idol gives Steven Pateman the full set in Australian Steeplechase win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Star jumper Stern Idol produced a sublime display – under a modern weight-carrying record – to win the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman rated the Ciaron Maher-trained 73kg top weight perfectly in pursuit of a personal milestone, the previously elusive Australian Steeplechase crown. Pateman boasted just about every other domestic jumps feature, including Australian Hurdle (four), Grand National Steeple (four), Grand National Hurdle (four) and Grand Annual Steeple (three), but an Australian Steeplechase win had eluded him before Sunday. He largely dictated the Australian Steeple aboard Stern Idol from on or close to the speed and then fended off the gallant runner-up Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker, in the home straight. Not Usual Dream and Heir To The Throne rounded out the top four. Leaderboard enjoyed an economical steer from Will Gordon and 7kg weight advantage on Stern Idol. Pateman lauded Stern Idol's performance. 'I wasn't leading from the get go and I was happy for that to unfold,' Pateman said. '73kg leading all the way could've been his undoing. He was awesome. 'It was pretty lonely after the last with 73kg, knowing the second horse had (seven) kilos less. 'He was weighed down, he maintained the gallop but couldn't go any faster because of the weight. 'I was thinking 'I'd never won this race' … the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeple are absolutely time-honoured events, it's super special.' Steven Pateman gives Stern Idol a pat after winning the Australian Steeplechase. Photo:. Bit Of A Lad, saddled by Maher and former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, carried 70kg to win the 2020 Australian Steeple. Mazzacano (2009) lumped 69.5kg, while Thubiaan (2015) and Vindicating (2011) had 69kg handicaps. Pateman said Stern Idol benefited from a campaign – a flat run and two hurdle starts – tailored to the 'target' Australian Steeple. 'He could've run in steeplechases earlier in the year and carried big weights and might've won one but too hard all the time,' he said. 'Today was a target, the way he settled he knew where he was, he knew the trip he had to run out and he was really chill.' Sadly, Treasured Crown failed to finish and was humanely euthanized due a catastrophic leg injury. The second favourite sustained the injury upon landing after the second last jump. Jockey William McCarthy was uninjured. The Cunning Fox launches over a hurdle on his way to winning the Australian Hurdle. Photo:. Meanwhile, Australia's emerging jumps star The Cunning Fox claimed the Australian Hurdle (3900m) from Highland Blaze and Affluential. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained jumper is undefeated in six starts over the obstacles. The six-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by his regular rider Tom Ryan. Originally published as Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
