Gordon on Thenamesbond in Great Northern Hurdle

Englishman Will Gordon, 20, is building a solid fan base among New Zealand’s jumps racing fraternity.

Jockeys Shaun Phelan and Emily Farr are his number one fans and enticed him to New Zealand a few weeks ago.

His arrival was opportune with Phelan and Farr on the injured list after raceday falls.

‘‘Will’s a great worker and great to have around the stable,’’ Farr said.

‘‘He has been a big help with Shaun and I on the sidelines.’’

Gordon found a new fan at Te Aroha on Sunday with his winning ride aboard Thenamesbond in the open hurdle (3100m).

The gelding’s trainer Stephen Ralph was full of praise for Gordon’s handling of the horse and will reward him with a ride in New Zealand’s most prestige hurdle race.

Thenamesbond will back up in next Saturday’s $125,000 Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) with Gordon in the saddle.

‘‘We got the rider we’ve been asking for,’’ Ralph said. ‘‘He’s a frontrunner and that’s the way to ride him.

‘‘If you put him among horses he stresses and doesn’t breathe properly.

‘‘He needs to be ridden with soft hands and allowed to do his own thing.’’

Whanganui winner Red Sunset was Gordon’s first New Zealand sucess, Thenamesbond his second and he quickly added a third aboard Mr Kanton on Sunday.

Trained by Phelan’s father Craig, Mr Kanton was another precise frontrunning ride by Gordon in the maiden steeplechase.

This weekend Thenamesbond will have his third stab at the Northern.

Last year he ran a respectable fifth, the year before he was pulled up after a bad jump at the second last.

‘‘In the previous Great Northerns we haven’t gone in as good as we will this year,’’ Ralph said.

The Ann Browne-trained Raisafuasho made up many lengths for third Michael Mitchell.

He fell early at his previous start but Sunday’s run confirmed he is on course for the Northern.

‘‘He puffed a lot afterwards,’’ Browne said.’’It was his first real race for five weeks after he fell the other day.

‘‘I just hope it’s improved him enough for the Northern.’’

Browne will have Big Brownie representing the stable for the third time in the Great Northern Steeplechase after the 13-year-old won Sunday’s open steeplechase. ridden by