Tarawera On Track For Crisp Steeple
- Thursday, 29 July 2010 02:00
Tarawera will get the opportunity to register his second win within four days this Sunday.
It comes after the Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston-trained galloper transferred his ultra-consistent form over the jumps to win on the flat yesterday at Sandown Hillside.
Tarawera prevailed in an epic struggle up the straight with Metung Belle to win by the narrowest of margins in the $30,000 Betfair 0-82 Handicap (2400m).
Tarawera’s rider Craig Williams said that Metung Belle had headed his mount “by around a length” at one stage in the straight while Houlahan was surprised the verdict favoured her horse.
But she conceded, “Once he gets in a dogfight he keeps sticking his head out and has a go - it was terrific.”
Now on the first day of the 2010/11 season, Tarawera is likely to take his place in the $100,000 QLS Logistics Crisp Steeplechase (3800m) at Warrnambool.
To be ridden by stable jumps jockey Trent Wells, Tarawera will be looking for his fifth win from his last seven starts.
“He’s going to Warrnambool on Sunday and then the Grand National,” Houlahan said.
“He’s a very promising young horse, he’ll be only five-year-old (next season) and he’s got a lot of upside to him.”
Tarawera will be joined by Morsonique, Nuvolari, Sir Pentire and Plumtastic as horses that ran yesterday and are in the field to contest the Crisp.
However Sir Pentire is doubtful of taking his place in the field after being eased out of yesterdays $30,000 Pedro's Pride Steeplechase (3400m) by Brad McLean who told stewards the rising 11-year-old failed to handle the heavy going.
The $150,000 Grand National Steeple (4530m) is scheduled for August 15.
Pictures: Colin Bull
