Durden jumps for joy
CHAMPION jumper Wells is on track for a fourth Grand National Steeplechase crown after a dominant win in a dramatic Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3600m) at Bendigo yesterday.
The Kath Durden-trained 10-year-old claimed his second Mosstrooper, racing away to a six length victory over Sea King.
Wells managed to dodge leader Something To Share’s horrific fall at the second last. The fall also took down Wells’ stablemate King Kamada with Abebe going over the top of the pair dislodging rider Martin Kelly.
The victory was bittersweet for Durden with King Kamada looking likely to give the stable the quinella before the fall.
Wells will continue the same path he followed on the way to winning last year’s Grand National Steeplechase, running in the Crisp before his grand final.
“He is just a super horse really, it’s as simple as that,” Durden said.
“I thought we were going to run the quinella. It was a real shame, he (King Kamada) had his legs taken out from under him.”
Durden said King Kamada was fine after the race, but would wait to make a decision on whether they push on with his preparation.
“I’m not going to make any decisions today. You have got to be very mindful of the horse’s mental de- meanour as well as physical. I will wait and see how he is over the next few days and we will go from there.”
The eight-year-old King Kamada has progressed nicely over the jumps this season and looks to have a bright future.
“He has been running in the top races and running more than competitively. His turn will come,” Durden said.
MEANWHILE, Durden said she was likely to drop Open House back to 1000m after her down the track finish at Flemington on Satur- day. The speedy four-yearold was beaten by seven lengths down the straight over 1200m, but there were some excuses.
“I don’t know if she got the 1200m and she was probably on the wrong side of the track,” Durden said.