Aigne takes Jericho road

The Neil O’Dowd-trained Aigne booked his ticket to a unique Australian feature when he strode clear in the run home to take out the Road To The Jericho (3210m), at New Plymouth yesterday.

The race carried a special bonus with a guaranteed start in the $A300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on December 1 on offer. The Jericho Cup was established to commemorate the centenary of a race run on the desert sands in Palestine in World War I to divert attention from the Australian Light Horse’s charge at Beersheba. The race is restricted to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses, with the inaugural event won by the New Zealand-bred High Mode.

Successful over hurdles at Rotorua in his most recent start, Aigne ($9) was rock-hard fit for yesterday’s contest and so it proved as he comprehensively outstayed his rivals for apprentice rider Charlotte O’Beirne.

Sent forward to dispute the pace after beginning smartly from a midfield barrier, Aigne dropped the bit nicely for O’Beirne, as the pair took a trail behind topweight Zentangle. Grand National Hurdle winner Alfie Dee increased the pace when he took over in front with a lap to run, but O’Beirne had Aigne off the rail and chasing immediately afterwards.

Taking over at the 600m, Aigne shot six lengths clear and retained a comfortable margin to the winning post as he held the challenges of last year’s runner up Where Are You and favourite Hurry Cane.

Hamilton-based O’Dowd, who also owns the Sufficient sevenyear-old, was quick to breathe a sigh of relief as he explained how he had spent most of the day trying to keep his charge calm before stepping out on the track.

‘‘I’ve had him in the sand roll since we got here to try and keep him quiet,’’ he said.

‘‘We let him out and away he goes. I couldn’t have got him any better as he was really well.’’

O’Dowd also confirmed that he would take up the offer to travel to The Jericho Cup, with an-all expenses paid trip.

‘‘That’s the plan,’’ he said.