Plan works perfectly
WELLINGTON: The emotion showed on the faces of Wingatui trainers Brian and Shane Anderton after Jackfrost fulfilled a 12month plan by winning the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton yesterday.
‘‘It’s not often you set them for a race like this and it comes off, but it did today,’’ Brian Anderton said.
The 8yrold was bred by Anderton and his wife, Lorraine.
Jackfrost is a product of the Andertons’ White Robe Lodge stud operation, by resident sire Gallant Guru from Vital Note, a daughter of their former successful sire, Yamanin Vital.
It was Brian Anderton’s fourth win in the feature after Bymai (1980), Lord Venture (1986) and Narousa (2001), the lastnamed in partnership with Shane, who also rode the horse.
Yesterday, Brian gave his son the credit for Jackfrost’s success.
‘‘Shane has done all the work — I’ve been away on holiday.’’
The stable has fewer jumpers than in past years, but Jackfrost has stood out as a horse with an exciting future.
He was forwarded on to the Anderton stable by Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston with the belief he could make his mark as a jumper and the Andertons have taken him to the next level.
He emerged as a serious Grand National Hurdles hope when he won on the first two days of last year’s Grand National meeting and it was then the decision was made to put him aside and set him for the race.
Two seconds and a win at Timaru put him on target, and his run on the first day at Riccarton, when second to favourite Laekeeper, showed he was ready for the big challenge. He was beaten threequarters of a length by the Waikato visitor in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) after losing ground near the 700m when awkwardly placed.
But rider Stuart Higgins was not about to get into the same trouble yesterday.
Higgins, who was having his second ride in the race, had him clear halfway down the home straight and Jackfrost skipped the last fence and went on to win by eight and ahalf lengths from Laekeeper.
‘‘I wouldn’t admit it before, but I cost him a couple of placings with my rides earlier in the year, but they [the Andertons] stuck with me,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘From the first time I rode him everyone was excited and he’s lived up to expectations.’’
The joy of the win was multiplied by the huge number of owners who make up the Frosty’s Shoutin The Beers Syndicate, all echoing the praise for trainers, jockey and horse. — NZ Racing Desk
❛ It’s not often you set them for a race like this and it comes off, but it did today