Houston proud of Aust Grand National second
Cambridge trainer Shelley Houston fell slightly short in her quest to win one of Australia’s biggest steeplechases.
Earlier in the winter the fledgling trainer and former top jumps jockey set an ambitious plan to have Lucky Tonight at peak for the A$350,000 Australian Grand National Steeplechase.
At Ballarat on Sunday Lucky Tonight found one better in the big race but thrilled Houston with his effort behind Wells.
When the eight-year-old left for Australia he hadn’t been tested in a steeplechase, with his jumping restricted to nine hurdle races. He won one of them, to go with two flat wins.
He had banked owner and breeder Kevin Marshall nearly $60,000 and in four Australian starts which all produced seconds has added around A$130,000.
‘‘This was the race he was trained for and I couldn’t be prouder,’’ Houston said. ‘‘Gosh, he tries so hard.
‘‘He’s only going to get better, he’s learnt so much from the experience.’’
Warrnambool next May is now on the agenda.
‘‘He’s booked to fly home on September 1, but he’s done enough this time in,’’ she said.
‘‘He will go to Grand Vue Lodge and have a couple of months off before we get him ready for the Warrnambool carnival.’’
Houston and Lucky Tonight are best of friends but it wasn’t love at first sight.
Their relationship had a rocky start when he arrived at Houston’s stable as a three-year-old from Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan.
‘‘We had a battle for the first month and a-half,’’ Houston said. ‘‘He was big and he was ignorant.
‘‘He was so naughty – he would bash me up against walls, the side of the tie-up, but we worked him hard and he finally turned the corner.’’
First-up from the stable he went to Te Aroha and bolted in, with Houston in the saddle.
‘‘We’re inseparable now – he’s my best friend,’’ Houston said.
She and recognised that the toughness he displayed would hold to him when he turned steeplechasing.
‘‘Now that stamina and inner strength is going in the right direction,’’ she said.
‘‘I said before we left for Australia, if he does step up we’ll come back for Warrnambool so that’s what we will focus on.
‘‘He runs on anything but I do think he’s best on better footing which he should get there in May.’’
Wells, a Galileo nine-year-old, is an outstanding steeplechaser who won the Grand National two years ago.
He missed the 2015 season following surgery for a joint infection, which trainer Kathryn Durden and husband Craig said allowed him to mature and cope with racing. With Wells gaining his second victory, only two horses have won the Grand National in the past five years after Bashboy was successful in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Wells was ridden by Richard Cully while Michael Mitchell was aboard Lucky Unicorn.
Former Kiwi Zed Em started the $3.10 favourite and was beaten 25 lengths into fourth after appearing to have every chance while another ex-kiwi I’ll’ava’alf was brought down by a faller at the last.
Cully said the tough conditions with the rain that fell during the day at Ballarat had helped Wells, who proved the superior stayer.
Cully and Mitchell had ridden at Ellerslie on Saturday on Pakuranga Hunt day. to