Tarawera Wins Crisp Steeplechase
- Sunday, 01 August 2010 08:16
The Grand National Steeplechase at Sandown in a fortnight’s time appears at the mercy of Tarawera following his dominant victory in the $100,000 QLS Logistics Crisp Steeplechase (3800m) at Warrnambool on Sunday.
Racing in fourth position for the first half of the race, Tarawera challenged Key Symbol and Morsonique at the second last fence only to obtain the lead prior to the final fence and win easily.
Tarawera ($2.15-$2.30-$2 fav) defeated Morsonique ($7-$6.50) by eight lengths with Plumtastic ($9-$11) a similar margin away in third.
Mali Juraj ($8-$10-$9) finished fourth after nearly falling at the first fence.
Equal topweights Al Garhood, Sir Pentire and Virvacity were all eased out of the event.
After the race, the comparisons between Tarawera and former stablemate Pentiffic were rife.
“He’s a nice young horse," co-trainer Brian Johnston said.
"I’m not going to say he’s Pentiffic yet but gee he’s doing everything right.
“The only other one to do this in their first season is Pentiffic.
Winning jockey Trent Wells said, “I’m not going to compare them but he’s going in the right direction.”
“I wouldn’t compare any of them to Pentiffic, he’s a superstar but this bloke is only four (turned five today).
“Pentiffic did it when he was older,” he added.
In his first season over the bigger fences, Pentiffic won the Hiskens Steeplechase, Crisp Steeplechase and Grand National Steeple.
Tarawera will get his chance to win the $150,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4530m) at Sandown on August 15.
Wells also paid tribute to the training effort from Johnston and Fran Houlahan.
“Jockeys get on here and lapdog up trainers all the time but gee I’m lucky to be apart of them.”
“They are great trainers and they really are great people.
“He jumped really good, made a mess at probably one of them but he’s a class above them.
“It was just a matter of when I wanted to get there.
“Brian copped a bit of bad publicity lately, but for an imbecile he trains pretty good,” he quipped.
With a record of four wins and two seconds from eight jumps starts, Tarawera took his overall record to six wins and five placings with over $210,000 in prizemoney, of which, only $33,000 has been won on the flat.
Pictures: Colin Bull
