Southern Icon back to best
A lengthy period of frustration with Southern Icon ended yesterday for trainer Alan Tait when the talented sprinter returned to winning form.
The six-year-old produced a commanding front-running performance to add the BCD Group Handicap (1400m) at Te Rapa to his record.
‘‘Everything has gone wrong in the last two years,’’ Tait said.
‘‘Hopefully, we’ll be back here in a fortnight and then look toward the spring.’’
Plagued by a serious virus and a subsequent leg injury, Southern Icon had opened his campaign seven days previously at New Plymouth where he finished fourth behind the highlyregarded Art Deco.
‘‘I thought his run at Taranaki was good, he had 58.5kg,’’ Tait said.
‘‘He came through it well and he just loves this place, it doesn’t matter to him if it rains.’’
Southern Icon travelled boldly in front and, after surging clear 350m from home, he strolled home by a length and a-quarter to post his fifth victory on the course.
‘‘It was a good run first-up and when he’s a happy horse he’s a good horse,’’ said Mark Hills, who has now won eight races on the son of Big Brown.
Awapuni visitor Mighty Solomon got home strongly from last to take second and the stayer Pacorus gave a bold account of himself to finish third in his first outing for six months.
‘‘We had a minor set-back with him six weeks ago with a back issue, but we’ve got that sorted,’’ trainer Chris Wood said. ● The Shackler claimed the first prestige event of the jumping season when second best at Te Rapa yesterday had looked more likely to be his reward.
The Paul Nelson-trained veteran measured his jumps well in or near the lead under Aaron Kuru during the Porritt Sand Waikato Hurdle (3200m) before he was hotly challenged by It’s A Wonder three flights from home.
The latter then lost his chance when the Harvey Wilsonprepared gelding met the second last hurdle poorly and all but dislodged rider Will Gordon, who did well to stay aboard and finish runner-up.
Fortunes were reversed in the Neil Treweek Steeplechase (3900m) when It’s A Wonder’s stablemate Venerate was successful under Gordon after Nelson’s Perry Mason fell at the final fence when looking the win- TRISH DUNELL ner for Kuru.
The Shackler was having his first jumping outing of his campaign and a winter programme has yet to be confirmed for the 11-year-old.
“We’ll take it one at a time,” Nelson said.
“We could come back here (for the K. S. Browne Hurdle) or wait for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles.
‘‘We just have to avoid the really bad tracks.”
The Shackler has now won four times, including last season’s Wellington Hurdles (3100m), from his current quarters after eight successes for former trainer Michael Dromgool.
“He’s a lovely horse to train and all the work had been done for us,” Nelson said.
Notabadrooster, the outsider of the field, took third money ahead of Yardstick and the 2013 winner Sea King, who was under pressure 800m from home. RAYMOND Connors’ training talents were showcased yesterday with a memorable double.
The Wanganui trainer. pictured, was at Te Rapa to see Max victorious in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) and threequarters of an hour later stablemate She’s Poppy resumed on a top note by claiming the Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Awapuni.
He has an outstanding record with jumpers – most notably the three-time Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) winner Hypnotize – but his conditioning skills with the flat members of his team are also first-rate.
Two New Zealand Cups with Blood Brotha, who also won a Wellington Cup and ran fourth in the Sydney Cup, and a Manawatu Classic with his New Zealand Derby and AJC Derby (2400m) placegetter King Johny emphasise Connors’ ability.
She’s Poppy was making her first appearance for six months, She’s Poppy came with a well-timed run under Shaun McKay to beat a game Ringo, who gave the winner seven kilos.
Meanwhile, Connors will try to plot different paths this winter with Max and Wise Men Say.
‘‘I’ll definitely be trying to keep them apart but at some point they might have to clash,’’ he said.
He has yet to confirm Max’s immediate future, who has now won four of his seven starts over the big fences.
‘‘I haven’t got any immediate thoughts at the moment, but longer-term probably the Grand National,’’ Connors said.
With Ellerslie out of action, he will make a decision on whether Wise Men Say will defend his Great Northern Steeplechase after he runs in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase on June 3.
‘‘I want to see how he handles the course here at Te Rapa first,’’ Connors said.
Max adapted with ease on Saturday and came from a long way back for rider Isaac Lupton, who has been aboard the Gallant Guru gelding in all of his jumping wins, to run down Justa Charlie with Thenamesbond taking third from Shamal.
‘‘It was a very good effort. He got a wee way off them, but he jumped well and it’s all worked out nicely,’’ Connors said.