Matost jumps to task
Matost woke up to his obligations at Te Aroha on Sunday.
A toff on the flat when given his favourite loose track conditions, he won 11 races in the role for owner and the gelding’s former trainer Mark Phillips.
Philips, a Taupiri farmer who has raced and trained several handy horses, bred and races Matost with friends Stephen Gutry and Tony Morris.
The Keeper gelding could have an exciting future as a jumper but his latest pursuit has been a long time in the making.
The hard work and patience was rewarded when he scampered 10 lengths clear of his maiden hurdle opponents to win the Ann Browne Racing Maiden Hurdle.
The 10-year-old spent six weeks at the end of a preparation three or four years ago with Waingaro trainer Shelley Wright and impressed with his hurdling ability.
But he wasn’t seen in the role publicly until he stepped out at a Cambridge jumps trial this May when he carefully negotiated his way around at the back of the field.
He returned for more in June and showed intent with a promising second behind Royal Sceptre before a fifth on hurdle debut in July.
When he returned to work this season he was placed in the permanent care of Wright after Phillips decided not to renew his trainer’s licence.
‘‘Out of the blue I got a call to say ‘pick the horse up’. I was delighted, he’s such a neat horse to have around.’’
Along with Sunday’s winning jockey Charlie Studd, Wright has put a lot of time and effort moulding Matost into the horse jumps fans witnessed in action.
‘‘Lately I’ve been taking him to Cambridge and Charlie has been a big help. The horse jumped brilliantly for Charlie last Tuesday and then on Thursday he jumped like a clown.’’
Studd gave Matost a wake up call and the result was plain to see on Sunday.
The majority of the Wright team’s work is done on the rolling to steeper country on their 600 acre dry stock farm.
Te Aroha is the likely venue of Matost’s next outing but his trainer has no lofty ambitions at this stage.
‘‘I think he will improve as he gets more confidence,’’ Wright said.
‘‘There’s no rush to take on the big races – he’s got another year or two in him.’’