Chasing Bashboy record
CHAMPION jumper Wells will be out to equal Bashboy’s record of three Grand National Steeplechase titles when he competes in the feature Ballarat race tomorrow.
Moriac trainer Kathryn Durden says the 10-year-old continues to show a love for racing, evident with back-toback wins leading up to the weekend.
The son of champion stayer and stallion Galileo won the $100,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3600m) at Bendigo on July 23 before following up with a victory in the $125,000 Crisp Steeplechase (3900m) a fortnight ago.
“He’s just a really honest horse and he still likes doing it,” Durden said.
“He loves racing, he’s competitive and a genuine stayer. He’s just one of those great old honest horses.”
It’s a slightly different leadin to last year’s race, where Wells had to be scratched the morning of the Crisp due to a colic attack.
But the campaign has gone to plan this year, with tomorrow’s $350,000 race the clear grand final.
“There’s him and Sea King both on 71.5kg so we’ll see how he goes,” Durden said, referring to a 1.5kg penalty incurred from his Crisp victory.
“He was right on [fitnesswise] for the Crisp — the thing though with that race, it was his first time on heavy ground this preparation. All of his runs had been on soft tracks, so it was a genuine heavy track and he did the job.”
Ballarat was rated a heavy 10 on Friday morning, the same condition for last year’s 4500m classic where Wells scored by 10 lengths.
Durden said it would be a huge thrill to equal Bashboy’s victory.