Tarawera Terrific In Australian Steeple

Saturday, 19 June 2010 05:19

Lightly-raced four-year-old gelding Tarawera has defeated a quality field of steeplechasers to win the $100,000 Australian Steeple (3900m) at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside this afternoon.

Tarawera was only having his second start over the larger obstacles and his sixteenth career start, but that failed to prevent the son of Giant’s Causeway from securing one of Victoria's premier steeplechase events.

Tarawera ($3.50-$4.40) raced on the pace the entire trip before staving off the late challenge of Virvacity ($4.60-$5-$4.80) who made ground from a midfield position to win by 2-3/4 lenghts.

Last Shogun ($9-$10) battled away bravely behind those for third a further 1-1/4 lengths adrift, narrowly edging out Our Santa ($13-$14) who finished fourth.

Stop The Traffic ($12-$13) was the only other runner to complete the course.

Favourite Mazzacano ($2.60-$3.60-$3.50 fav) and Volkswagin ($31-$51) were pulled out of the event prior to the final steeple while Mali Juraj ($7.50-$9) dislodged Brett Scott at the same fence.

Tainui Teina ($26-$31) fell shortly after the start with both horse and rider Gavin Bedggood escaping injury.

Winning jockey Trent Wells said he was confident of victory throughout despite his tendency to pull hard in running.

“That’s just him, he really does pull hard,” Wells said before adding, “He gave Scotty (Brett Scott) a hard time the other day but he could do another lap, Fran and Brian have had him that fit.”

“When I got him to roll forward, as much as I didn’t want to get there - I knew he was going to go right past them - he was going to take a bit of beating.

“He quickened alright for a jumper and took the last two fences good and that’s what won him the race,” he added.

Fran Houlahan, co-trainer of Tarawera with Brian Johnston said, “He hasn’t settled in one race since we’ve had him.”

“He has pulled like a lunatic in his flat races and everything so hopefully he learns how to settle but he’s not doing a bad job not settling.

“For a young horse he is doing a great job,” she insisted.

Johnston said he believed Mazzacano was Tarawera’s biggest threat.

“I thought if the old Mazzacano turned up I didn’t think he could beat him but gee our horse has improved from last week – he has really come on,” Johnston said.

Johnston now may opt to send Tarawera to the United Kingdom in January to tackle some jumping races with the prospect of sending a team of runners.

However that idea is only in its initial stages.

Tarawera has won and been placed four times from 16 starts and boasts a record of three wins from six starts over the jumps.

Today’s victory ensures his prizemoney is now in excess of the $115,000.

Pictures: Colin Bull