Trentham winners will head south
Wee Biskit and Mr Mor were the big winners over jumps at Trentham on Saturday but the Canterbury Jockey Club are celebrating too.
Connections of both runners confirmed their next stop was Riccarton in the first week of August for the Grand National carnival.
The Ken Duncan-trained Wee Biskit ran the field off its feet to win the $75,000 Wellington Hurdles by 81⁄ lengths.
A six-year-old Zed mare, Wee Biskit, will be one of the favourites for the $75,000 Grand National Hurdle on the middle day of the Riccarton carnival.
Wee Biskit was ridden a treat by Matt Cropp on Saturday who is no stranger to success at Riccarton.
He has already won the Grand National Hurdle with Joint Effort and the Grand National Steeplechase aboard El Patron.
Saturday’s win was the former Canterbury-based jockey’s second day of jumps riding this season because of his commitments as huntsman for the Egmont Hunt but they finished with the final day of the season on Sunday.
Mr Mor, in the hands of Charlie Studd, was pushed hard but won the $75,000 Wellington Steeplechase by a length.
The pacemaker, The Oysterman, was a gallant second with a further 17 lengths back to Tom’s Myth in third spot.
JJ Rayner, who trains in partnership with her father, Evan, confirmed after the win that the Grand National Steeplechase was the next stop. Meanwhile, nine horses have been withdrawn from Winter Cup nominations.
The $100,000 race over 1600m on the opening day of the carnival will be a competitive field with 45 first acceptances still in the mix and late acceptances will be taken up until July 22.