Latest news with #StevenPateman
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
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
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Stern Idol does it in style in the Australian Steeplechase
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. Stern Idol soars to victory in the Australian Steeplechase! ðŸ'¥ Trained by Ciaron Maher and expertly ridden by Steve PatemanðŸ�†ðŸ�Ž — Australian Jumps Racing Association (@AusJumpsRacing) June 1, 2025 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.' 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. 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. The Cunning Fox remains perfect â�ï¸� — (@Racing) June 1, 2025
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Star jumps jockey Steven Pateman back in action at Warrnambool after missing last year
Star jumps jockey Steven Pateman endured the pain of missing last year's Warrnambool Carnival but will be back where he belongs at this week's three-day jumps racing showpiece. Pateman was serving the final days of a nine-month disqualification, watching his colleagues thrive on their biggest stage a week before he was able to resume riding and training from his Geelong base. He said being unable to ride at Warrnambool last year only heightened his excitement for the 2025 carnival. 'It's really exciting especially when we're going to have three runners of our own, including one in the Grand Annual,' he said. 'To just miss last year by a few days, makes it even more exciting.' Pateman's Warrnambool May Carnival record shows the reason for his desperation to return to the famous western Victorian circuit this week. Pateman has won three Grand Annual Steeplechases, four Galleywood Hurdles and four Brierly Steeplechases. Now 42, Pateman said he was as fit as ever and retained the drive that took him to the top of the Australian jumps riding ranks. 'I got up to 84kg when I was out but my body must have needed a break when I was out,' Pateman said. 'I was able to get my weight down really well when I came back and I've maintained it now. 'Age is just a number. I'm loving race riding so I'll keep going as long as I can. 'As long as I keep enjoying it, I'll keep doing it.' Pateman still marvels at his career trajectory, which took him from Margaret River in WA to starting work for the David Hayes stable at Lindsay Park in the late 1990s. But he said he has only wanted to work with horses, which made his time out of racing more difficult. 'I'm from Margaret River in Western Australia so how it has all come about has been crazy,' Pateman said. 'I've ended up being a jumps jockey because I've just found something that I love. 'It was really difficult in the first half of the disqualification because I've worked with horses since I started at Lindsay Park when I was 16, which was pretty young. 'I've never done anything else. 'I tried doing other things when I was disqualified but I just missed the horses so much.' Pateman has two rides on Tuesday's opening day of the Warrnambool carnival. He'll be aboard Normandy Bridge for champion trainer and Warrnambool local Ciaron Maher and Sing For Peace for the Patrick and Michelle Payne stable in divisions of the maiden hurdle. The dual licence holder will also saddle up Saint Eustace for his first run in 18 months in a Benchmark 70 contest over 2350m.
