Walsh guides Bashboy to National victory Sakhee’s Soldier preparing for high profile campaign

Irish hoop Ruby Walsh added to his international record by posting a victory aboard Bashboy in this year’s Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. aboard Arch Fire in his opening ride in a hurdle race, Walsh had Bashboy up stalking the speed throughout over Sunday’s 4500m journey.

Walsh said Pateman played just as big a part as he did in the success of Bashboy.

“Steve spoke to me before the race and he was fairly adamant that he should go forward in the ground and with the weight,” Walsh said.

“They were Steve Pateman’s tactics, not mine, and I was happy with that.”

Walsh said he was over the moon to get the opportunity to come to Australia for his brief visit which ended with a return trip home yesterday.

He said he did not often get to ride abroad.

“As a jumps jockey you don’t get a lot of opportunities to ply your trade abroad,” Walsh said.

“I’m over the moon that I was asked to come, even happier that I won and I’m glad I didn’t fall off at the second last.”

“I rode in Tokyo and won twice and I’ve ridden here twice and won.”

Walsh said Bashboy would be competitive in the UK and a track

Photo: like Sandown, which has a lot of obstacles, ideal.

He added Bashboy did not feel like a 12-year-old and said an Australian rule precluding 13-yearolds from racing was a pity.

“He’s 12, but he doesn’t ride like a 12 year-old,” Walsh said.

“There’s so much energy there and he’s such a good jumper and I think it’s a pity that the rules are going to stop him running as a 13-year-old.

“I think that’s wrong needs to be looked at.

“He’s a gem and has loads running left in those legs.”

and

it

of ONE of last season’s most impressive Group I graduates is quietly going through his paces in readiness for a return to action.

Sakhee’s Soldier completed a dramatic rise through the grades during his last preparation to progress from a rating 75 success in October to winning the Eagle Technology Stakes five weeks later.

The gelding continued his roll to claim the Rich Hill Mile on New Year’s Day and two runs later he stepped up to a middle distance for the first time to down Rising Romance in the New Zealand Stakes.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Sakhee’s Soldier returned to their Cambridge stable five weeks ago following surgery.

“He had chips in both knees after the NZ Stakes and he was operated on immediately,” part-owner Alasdair Chisholm said.

“He spelled exceedingly well at The Oaks Stud and put on 65kg. He’s come back a bigger and stronger horse, which is exactly what Murray had told us 12 months ago.

“He’s just doing pace work and building up slowly and at this stage it’s all going well.”

Also instrumental to the development of Sakhee’s Soldier last season was the input of his regular rider Matt Cameron.

With a current rating of 104, Sakhee’s Soldier’s is likely to be restricted to weight-for-age racing later in the year.

“He would be carrying very big weights in handicaps so we’ll probably Sakhee’s Soldier is being put through his paces ahead of a return to racing. Photo: look at races like the Eagle Technology again, the Captain Cook Stakes and the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day,” Chisholm said.

“We would also like to see him race in Australia so, all going well, he could go to Sydney next autumn.”