Gordon rides Thenamesbond in Northern
Englishman Will Gordon, 20, is building a solid fan base among New Zealand’s jumps fraternity.
Recognised jumps jockeys Shaun Phelan and Emily Farr are his number one fans and enticed him to New Zealand a few weeks ago.
His arrival was opportune with Phelan and Farr on the injured list after raceday falls.
‘‘Will’s a great worker and great to have around the stable,’’ Farr said. ’’He has been a big help with Shaun and I on the sidelines.’’
Gordon found a new fan at Te Aroha on Sunday with his winning ride aboard Thenamesbond in the open hurdle (3100m).
The gelding’s trainer Stephen Ralph was full of praise for Gordon’s handling of the horse in the open hurdle and will reward him with a ride in New Zealand’s most prestige hurdle race.
Thenamesbond will back up in next Saturday’s $125,000 Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) with Gordon in the saddle.
‘‘We got the rider we’ve been asking for,’’ Ralph said.
‘‘He’s a frontrunner and that’s the way to ride him.
‘‘If you put him among horses he stresses and doesn’t breathe properly.
‘‘He needs to be ridden with soft hands and allowed to do his own thing.’’
Ralph was thankful Phelan chased him to give Gordon the chance to ride the horse.
‘‘Shaun put me on to him so I went and watched his winning ride on Red Sunset at Whanganui and thought ‘wow, he’s our man’ - I was confident we had the right jockey.’’
Red Sunset was Gordon’s first New Zealand win, Thenamesbond his second and he quickly added a third aboard Mr Kanton on Sunday.
Trained by Phelan’s father Craig, Mr Kanton was another precise frontrunning ride by Gordon in the maiden steeplechase.
This weekend Thenamesbond will have his third stab at the Northern.
Last year he ran a respectable fifth, the year before he was pulled up after a bad jump at the second last hurdle.
‘‘In the previous Great Northerns we haven’t gone in as good as we will this year,’’ Ralph said.
‘‘In this race I knew as soon as we got rid of D’Llaro and with Raisafuasho so far off us, that we were home.
‘‘He always finds more down the straight and the extra distance of the Northern shouldn’t worry him. Bring on next weekend, we’re on the right foot.’’
The Ann Browne-trained Raisafuasho made up many lengths for third ridden by Michael Mitchell with D’Llaro clinging to second.
Raisafuasho fell early at his previous start but Sunday’s run confirmed he is on course for the Northern and will start as one of the the best backed.
‘‘I just hope it’s improved him enough for the Northern.’’
Browne will have Big Brownie representing the stable for the third time in the Great Northern Steeplechase after the 13-year-old won Sunday’s open steeplechase.
Gary Walsh won aboard Big Brownie and retains the ride next weekend while Mitchell will continue his association with Raisafuasho.