Wee Biskit takes the big cake

THERE are no more comparisons for Matt Cropp, Wee Biskit is officially the best mare he has ever sat on.

The Ken Duncan-trained hurdler blitzed the field to win back-to-back Wellington Hurdles at Trentham yesterday.

Wee Biskit, a tiny mare with an incredible will to win, won by seven lengths, falling just short of matching her eight and half length margin in 2015.

But margins were irrelevant for Cropp.

‘‘She’s an incredible mare, just amazing,’’ he said.

Following the 2015 win in the $75,000 Prestige race, Cropp compared the Duncans’ ‘‘family pet’’ to 2010 Grand National Hurdle winning mare Joint Effort but Saturday’s win has seen her surpass that level.

‘‘You’ll never ever get another one like her,’’ Cropp said.

A $200 purchase off Trade Me by Duncan, Wee Biskit’s second win in the Trentham feature has elevated her hurdles earnings over $200,000 and Cropp said all the credit should rest with Duncan.

‘‘This race was always the plan for her and Ken had her spot on just like last year.’’

Riccarton’s Grand National Carnival will be Wee Biskit’s next target.

The heavy 11 at Trentham was undoubtedly the key to victory.

He was happy to settle Wee Biskit back in the field as Thatz David took up his usual leading role.

With a lap to run, Wee Biskit was around 20 lengths off Thatz David but Cropp started to press forward around the 1500m mark and got serious with 800m to run before taking the lead at the 400m mark.

Mahanadi, in the hands of Shaun Fannin, made up stacks of ground in the last 600m to run into second.

Gagarin and Mathew Gillies fell at the third to last fence when looking a place chance.

My Magician and Michael Mitchell also lost their chances when falling on landing with 1200m to run.

Gillies was taken from the course by ambulance to hospital for observation. AARON Bidlake has set two lofty goals for Eric The Viking and the veteran jumper is on track at the halfway mark. Eric The Viking, who had not tasted victory since his Grand National Steeplechase heroics on August 9 2014, was back to his best when winning the $75,000 Wellington Steeplechase.

The five length win was ‘‘very special’’ for Bidlake who quite rightly ‘‘lost the plot’’ in the grandstand as he watched the horse, he refers to as his best mate, bring up the satisfying win.

Eric The Viking’s second aim is the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on August 13 and following the Trentham victory - Bidlake is confident it can be done if the conditions are close to the heavy 11 he struck at Trentham.

‘‘The only thing that can beat him is weight and a good track,’’ he said.

With no recent form on the board, Eric The Viking’s upset win returned a dividend of $18.50 but Bidlake was confident.

‘‘I was a wreck before the race, I haven’t eaten all day because I was so nervous and that was because I was so confident.

‘‘I told a lot of people after Hawke’s Bay he wouldn’t be beaten again this season so I would have looked stupid if he got beaten today,’’ Bidlake quipped.

Before the Trentham win, many would have laughed at Bidlake suggesting Eric The Viking could win the Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases but his faith in the gritty little horse never wavered.

In an honest assessment, Bidlake blames himself for a disappointing season last year.

But he is confident racing less and working him harder will prove the difference this time around for the rising 11-year-old.

Eric The Viking’s win capped an incredible day for Matt Cropp who earlier won the Wellington Hurdles aboard Wee Biskit.

Cropp kept the son of Viking Ruler handy throughout the 5500m trip before pushing him into the race with 400m to run and quickly moved into the lead.