Gem of a run from The Big Opal
The Big Opal produced a gem of a performance yesterday to complete a dream opening to the Grand National carnival at Riccarton for Kevin Myers.
The Wanganui jumper produced a flawless display off the front to win the Koral Steeplechase in a canter ahead of the Grand National Steeplechase in seven days’ time.
The Big Opal was partnered by Mathew Gillies and completed a clean sweep of the jumping events for Myers following the earlier successes of the Shaun Fanninridden duo of Ngario and Mailly.
For Gillies, it represented a perfect return to riding after a nasty fall at Trentham last month left him side-lined with concussion.
“That was great and it was Kevin’s decision for me to ride him so well done to everybody involved,” Gillies said.
The Big Opal jumped well at the head of the field and he was never in danger of defeat, cruising to victory and remains unbeaten after four steeplechase starts.
“He travelled well all the way and I had a lot of horse left under me,” Gillies said.
The Myers team is again in the capable care of Ken Harrison in Christchurch and he was naturally delighted with The Big Opal’s effort.
“That will be a good tonic for his owner Tony Dravitzki, who’s been ill and for Mathew coming back from his stand-down from concussion,” he said.
The Big Opal won by nine lengths from Upper Cut with Gargamel third ahead of the defending Grand National Steeples champion High Forty, who made late ground from the tail of the field.
Ngario has struck first blood over the jumps at Riccarton in a perfect trial for Wednesday’s Grand National Hurdle, writes Mat Kermeen.
Grand National week starting with yet another win for Shaun Fannin in the colours of Kevin Myers is an ominous omen but the lack of rain was just as encouraging for the leading jumps jockey and trainer.
Fannin was easing Ngario down before the post in the Sydenham Hurdles but the winning margin was still eight and a half lengths.
Most jockeys were convinced the Riccarton track was on the better side of its heavy 10.
With little rain forecast before Wednesday’s $75,000 Prestige hurdle, Wellington Hurdles winner Wee Biskit, who skipped the Sydenham, becomes a less dominating force but the way Ngario won it will be a clash of the titans regardless.
Fannin was impressed with the way Ngario relaxed just off the speed before he attacked the leaders at the 600m mark.
‘‘He did it very easy, he put them away about the 150m,’’ Fannin said after the nine-year-old son of Captain Rio jumped the last of the 11 hurdles as good as the first.
Ngario will not be rehandicapped for his Sydenham win and Fannin can not see the step up from 3100m to Wednesday’s 4200m being an issue.
Ngario’s stablemate Gagarin got home strongly for fourth with the top-weight of 70kg and will drop down to 67.5kg with Wee Biskit taking the top-weight at 69kg on Wednesday and Ngario will drop to 65kg.
Eye-catching runs came from the minor placegetters Just Ishi and Regalo Reaal, who complete the field with Danza Lad, Kick Back, Ready Eddie and Mahanadi for the Grand National Hurdle.