Proof that you should get back on the horse
STEEPLECHASER Des De Jeu and rider Aaron Kuru produced a remarkable win that had to be seen to be believed at Awapuni on Saturday.
Despite falling at the first jump in their maiden steeplechase, Kuru and Des De Jeu got back up to win in a performance that has wowed the racing world.
So impressive was Kuru’s epic display of horsemanship, to slide along the ground alongside Des De Jeu and then remount the horse, their winning effort caught international media attention.
Des De Jeu and Kuru’s deeds took the usually sedate scene of a Central Districts maiden steeplechase global.
The pair went viral on social media and featured on international TV news programmes, including ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Des De Jeu clipped the first steeple in his race, which sent him crashing to the ground.
The horse appeared to have lost any winning hope until Kuru showed remarkably quick reflexes to position himself to remount the horse as the pair slid along the Awapuni track.
Kuru threw himself back on Des De Jeu as the horse regained his feet and the pair galloped as the jockey quickly regained his irons.
Kuru even managed to yell out to the nearby clerk of the course as he got himself positioned on his horse again.
Despite making a mess of his first jump, Des De Jeu jumped much more cleanly as the race went on.
Kuru worked the horse into contention with 600m to run.
Des De Jeu was soon locked in a homestretch battle with the favourite, Gagarin.
Even after his massive effort to get up off the ground and catch the field, Des De Jeu kept coming at the finish.
Kuru worked the horse to the lead over the final jump and raised his whip in salute when victory was sealed.
The win and the reaction to it suggest it will be remembered as one of the remarkable victories in New Zealand’s mod ern racing history.
Des De Jeu’s trainer, Mark Oulaghan, admitted he had almost given up hope after seeing his horse crash early in the race.
‘‘We thought he wasn’t a bad sort of an animal but after the first fence I wasn’t giving him too much of a chance,’’ he said.
‘‘I was amazed he [Kuru] got back on, as I thought he was gone.
‘‘He’s a big, scopey horse who jumps well, so we think he has a big future as a chaser.’’
Kuru was surprisingly calm in his postrace interview, considering the incredible circumstances of his victory.
‘‘It was his first start over the fences and he probably landed a bit steep and just went down,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t really know and can’t explain it, as it just sort of happened.
‘‘I got back on and he drew himself back into the race. ‘‘He’s got plenty of ability. ‘‘After that first fence, he jumped pretty well, although there’s still plenty of improvement in him, so it’s exciting.’’
We thought he wasn’t a bad sort of an animal but after the first fence I wasn’t giving him too much of a chance. I was amazed he [Kuru] got back on
trainer Mark Oulaghan