Grand National Hurdles To High Season

Wednesday, 05 August 2009 00:00

‘It ain't over ‘til the fat lady sings' and ‘what could have been' are at opposite ends of the proverb scale, yet both played their part in the outcome of the $57,500 120th Grand National Hurdles Handicap, sponsored by Hanz (Hospitality Association of New Zealand), contested over fifteen fences and 4200 metres at Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch on Wednesday.

After Rioch, with twenty-year-old George Strickland aboard, had led by a big margin throughout, still three seconds clear of the second horse (approximately 20 lengths) angling for the run home with 500 metres to run, it appeared the race was all but over.

But one should not assume the outcome until the race is finished, and when he crashed out at the third last hurdle, then in dazed fashion ambled into the line of fire, everything changed complexion, and what could have been for Rioch and his young rider had disappeared.

With the likely winner out of the contest, and the well-favoured Solid Steal ridden by Tom Hazlett brought down in the subsequent skirmish, the race was taken by the scruff of the neck by first-day Sydenham Hurdles quinella High Season and Mr Charlton, with High Season in the hands of Brett Scott surging clear late for a six and a half length victory.

Mr Charlton held second, with three quarters of a length to Wolf Pack in third.

Owned and trained by the leading jumps trainer from last season John Wheeler, High Season came into the race with respective third place finishes in the Waikato Hurdles and the Hawkes Bay Hurdles in recent starts, and took his stakes to $275,000 with win number twelve.

Although gratefully victorious, it was not all plain sailing during the running for Scott.

"He's not an easy ride as he over-races if he doesn't get cover, and although I was looking to settle in midfield I went back to find cover and ended up back along the fence", said Scott.

"He gave a faultless display except for the fourth last, but he's a gutsy little horse and he jumped fantastic."

While John Wheeler was stoked with the victory, he was quick in asking of the wellbeing of fallen runners and riders, including his stable rider Richard Eynon who fell from Vinopolis at the last, all of which returned to scale intact.

With the elation of success filling the victorious, George Strickland, the rider of Rioch was feeling somewhat subdued.

"Kevin (Myers) told me to let him bowl along and I still hadn't gone for him, but he tried to jump it like a steeplechase fence and took off too soon."

"I don't care about falling I wanted to win the race."

"It could have really put my name out there to win this race."

"I'm absolutely gutted and won't sleep tonight, and will be gutted all week until I ride again on Saturday", an obviously disappointed Strickland said.

Although difficult to relay the tragedy to the waiting owners of Rioch, Strickland handled himself professionally, was genuinely apologetic, and should lose no admirers through the incident.

PICS - Jenny Barnes