Fannin hopes The Big Opal can sparkle
Shaun Fannin reckons he’s timing his run perfectly on The Big Opal. The Wanganui jumps jockey will team up with the Kevin Myerstrained Storm Creek gelding in today’s Bridges Insurance Services Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m), which has belatedly been transferred to Te Aroha with Te Rapa not fit for racing.
It will be Fannin’s first ride on The Big Opal since they finished fifth in the Waikato Steeples (3900m) at Te Rapa in May, unable to replicate their win in the same race in 2017.
Fannin feels The Big Opal is ready to claim another feature after several strong performances leading into today’s race, including a win in the Mcgregor Grant Steeples (4000m) at Trentham in June and third placings at his last two starts.
‘‘It was an encouraging run last Sunday over the hurdles for a close third and that should have topped him off perfectly for this weekend,’’ Fannin said.
‘‘It looks an open race – there’s no standout anyway. He’s probably the class horse in the field. He should be right there in the running to have a shot at them, so we’d like to think he’ll go close.’’
The Big Opal has won seven of his 15 steeplechase starts but after failing in the Grand National Steeples (5600m) at Riccarton for the past two years, Myers purposely bypassed that race this month to have his charge peaking for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and ideally, if he races well this weekend, the Irvines Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) on September 9.
‘‘He took a bit longer to come up this year but he won the Mcgregor Grant well and after those last two races, we think he’s somewhere near his best now,’’ Fannin said.
TAB bookmakers have The Big Opal as a $4.20 joint favourite for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup with Perry Mason and success would be a fitting tonic for Myers, whose brother Patrick died earlier in the week.
Fannin has five rides today, with the Mark Brooks-trained El Disparo his mount in the feature hurdle, the Corson Maize Hurdle (3100m).
‘‘He won his maiden hurdle at Hastings and was quite impressive doing it. I rode him last year in two starts in Australia when he ran second to Chequered Flag and then things went wrong in the second one,’’ Fannin said. ‘‘He jumps well and he went a good race on the flat last start, so that should have him right for this one.’’
Fannin’s other rides are Kiddo in the maiden steeplechase (3500m) and El Luchador and Wilijonmcbride in the two maiden hurdle races.