Wise Men Say is Northern victor
CO-OWNER and trainer Raymond Connors was missing from a famous win at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Wanganui horseman and farmer was watching an exciting Great Northern Steeplechase from the comfort of his lounge as he and his wife Rebecca await the birth of a child.
But the excitement was high as they celebrated another milestone win with Wise Men Say.
Winning the great race is nothing new for Connors and brother Mark who co-owns the horse, they won the race in 2007, 2008 and 2010 with the great Hypnotize and with Our Jonty in 1998.
Down the hill for the third time Isaac Lupton the jockey who rode Hypnotize to those great wins, and also won aboard Rangatira in 2013, had Wise Men Say right in contention.
Riding for dear life in pursuit of his fifth win in the iconic event, Lupton had no concerns as Wise Men Say’s stout South Island pedigree kicked in and he found the post in the slowest time in living memory, 9:31.50.
‘‘The conditions played in his favour,’’ Connors said. ‘‘He will keep going all day and that breeding is the secret to winning these races.’’
Like Hypnotize, Wise Men Say is by Yamanin Vital who stands at White Robe Stud in the deep south.
‘‘We do nothing special in their preparation,’’ Connors said with typical modesty. ‘‘It’s that breeding that makes the difference.’’
Connors and Lupton made a plan to have Wise Men Say closer to the pace than usual after chasing and not being able to catch Amanood Lad in lead-up races.
‘‘It wasn’t pretty but it got the job done,’’ Lupton said of his ride. ‘‘We were getting a bit frustrated chasing Amanood Lad home.
‘‘He’s the best stayer so we decided to ride him like he that.’’
Lupton has battled injuries and could have easily given riding away if not for the support and encouragement of the Connors family.
‘‘They kept me going,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s hard to believe I’ve won five Northerns now.’’
Grand National winner Upper Cut loomed as a threat but wilted to run a courageous second with Tizza Secret running bravely into third.
Amanood Lad was a casualty, coming to grief at the top of the hill on the third circuit of the 6400m battle while Kina Win despite completing the course, suffered irreparable suspensory TRISH DUNELL ligament damage and humanely euthanised.
Nells Belle and Mendoza were pulled up during the running.
A taste of what was to come later in the day, came in the first on the card when Pukeake Sam battled to victory in the Coca-Cola Hurdle.
Conditioned by the maestro Kevin Myers, Pukeake Sam was one of a handful to finish the race.
Giving jockey Matthew Cropp a welcome visit to the winner’s circle, the Zed gelding won easily after his challenger Cruiseo made a mistake at the last hurdle.
The demanding Heavy11 track conditions saw the race run in 3:48.36 – more than 20 seconds slower than Pukeake Sam’s race over the same course and distance two weeks ago, and described by some as the slowest they had seen at Ellerslie in 15-odd years..
A total of 56.2 lengths covered the six able to finish, while the other eight runners were all pulled up.
‘‘It’s the most testing track I’ve ridden at Ellerslie,’’ Cropp said. was CONDITIONS rarely experienced at Ellerslie were made to order for Great Northern Hurdle winner Zedeedudadeeko.
The testing Heavy11 track was no problem to the son of Zed out of Cheeko Beeko as he ploughed to victory in the $125,000 feature by 10 and a-half lengths.
The combination took 6:12.45 to cover the 4190m course on a track considered by jockeys to be as demanding as experienced for around 15 years.
The hero fo the day was winning jockey Charlie Studd.
The bearded rider needed to convince Tauherenikau trainer James Phillips to continue on to the big race after a below par effort at Te Aroha a fortnight earlier.
He ran a well beaten fourth but Studd knew he would improve with the run.
‘‘He’s the type of horse who knows when he’s beaten,’’ Studd said. ‘‘And he saves himself for another day.’’
He saved himself for the right day as he added the $75,000 winner’s prize to the $68,585 he had previously collected.
It was a’’special’’ win for former jumps jockey Phillips and his Wellington co-owners The McInteer Family Trust.
Cambridge-based Studd first met the horse when he was riding out of Hastings and hasn’t let him out of his sight since.
‘‘He impressed from the very beginning. He’s some animal,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s all heart and he will be some horse next season.
‘‘I love him and thought he could be among the best and when he strikes conditions like today he’s tough to beat.
‘‘When we had a shower of rain earlier that loosened the track up my confidence grew.
‘‘He jumps beautifully and I never had any worries as he relaxed beautifully.’’
Zedeedudadeeko won three on the flat with one of his best efforts a second in the Parliamentary Handicap behind Bel Sorriso at Trentham.
His five wins have all been on heavy tracks.
Second home was Stormin Norman with Kipkeino third and favourite Monarch Chimes fourth.
Monarch Chimes in his first season over the hurdles appeared he may carry his supporters through as the field swung for home.
But the conditions got to him and he battled in the run home.
‘‘He just tied up in the ground,’’ co-trainer David Browne said.
‘ He will keep going all day and that breeding is the secret to winning these races.’ RAYMOND CONNORS