Go Go Gonzo has got ‘small man’s syndrome’

POCKET rocket Go Go Gonzo has come through the preliminary with flying colours and his jockey Hamish McNeill is already counting down the hours for the grand final on Wednesday.

McNeill’s confidence is not surprising given the Sean Cameron-trained hurdler put eight and a half lengths on the field in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Sydenham Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday.

The grand final is the Prestige Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles.

What the small in stature Go Go Gonzo lacks in size he makes up for with his stubborn will to win.

‘‘He’s got small man’s syndrome,’’ McNeill said.

‘‘He’s just a tough horse, he never knows when he’s beaten. He always sticks his nose out.’’

Go Go Gonzo ($11.20) beat home Heistheone with $1.70 tote favourite Ngario a further half a head back in third on a puggy and holding heavy 11 at Riccarton Park.

McNeill is confident of a strong showing on Wednesday given the way Go Go Gonzo continued to run away from the field in the closing stages.

Go Go Gonzo will need to step up from the Sydenham distance of 3100m to 4200m in the Grand National but McNeill rates that as an advantage.

‘‘Stepping up in distance is never going to be an issue for him.’’

The win was Go Go Gonzo’s third in just seven starts over hurdles.

‘‘He’s come through it great. he did it so easy it’s a bit scary really,’’ Cameron said.

Meanwhile, The Big Opal has shortened into $2 favouritism for Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase on the back of an emphatic five and a half length victory.

The Kevin Myers-trained jumper won the NZI Koral Steeplechase for the second year running but it was the way he did it that impressed Fannin.

‘‘The biggest thing for him was the way he relaxed,’’ Fannin said.

The Big Opal started favourite in last year’s Grand National.

The horse and rider Matthew Gillies fell in the closing stages after Gillies lost both of his irons.

But on his Koral effort, Fannin is not concerned about going up in distance to 5600m.

‘‘In the past, he hasn’t seen out the distance because he has pulled so hard but because he relaxed so well he did easy today,’’ Fannin said.

Big Opal’s odds have shortened to $2 for the Grand National.

Kina Win was impressive in second as was Tai Ho who finished third.

Last year’s Grand National Steeplechase winner Upper Cut hit the line strongly in fourth and jockey Shaun Phelan was all smiles.

‘‘He’s missed a run in the lead up so it was a nice effort,’’ Phelan said.

Mr Mor, who was runner up behind Upper Cut in the 2016 Grand National, got the tick of approval from his jockey Matt Cropp after finishing fifth.

‘‘I’m pretty impressed with that heading towards Saturday,’’ he said.

Yardstick dumped jockey Richard Cully at the first fence and Charlie Price and Brok Bak took a heavy fall late in the race but neither jockey or horse was injured.

Tizza Secret, Kingiesstar and Paddy Owen did not contest the Koral but are nominated for the Grand National Steeplechase.

Myers picked up his first win of the carnival when Ours was a three and a half length winner in the maiden steeplechase.