Budd Fox set to tackle Grand Annual Steeplechase

The feature jumps races at Warrnambool are likely to come around too soon for Wil John but the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper could still be a player at the May Carnival. Wil John will make his long-awaited return to racing when he steps out in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2100m) at Sandown on Saturday. The gelding has not raced since…

Brungle Bertie caused quite a surprise when he emerged victorious in the $400000 Grand National Steeplechase held at Ballarat on Sunday. The eight-year-old, ridden by Lee Horner was considered an outsider with odds of $21 offered up with online bookmakers. Brungle Bertie dominated with a 5.5 length victory over Bell Ex One ($13), while…

Brungle Bertie delivered a blowout result when he realised a dream 12 months in the making for local trainer Henry Dwyer and owner/breeder Peter Balderstone in Sunday's $400000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. The eight-year-old recorded his first win since claiming the benchmark 120 steeplechase at the corresponding meeting last year when…

Brungle Bertie delivered a blowout result when he realised a dream 12 months in the making for local trainer Henry Dwyer and owner/breeder Peter Balderstone in Sunday's $400000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. The eight-year-old recorded his first win since claiming the benchmark 120 steeplechase at the corresponding meeting last year when…

ROCKSTAR IN NAME AND PERFORMANCE Rockstar Ronnie lived up to his name in front of an enthralled crowd with his breathtaking Grand Annual Steeplechase win but co-trainer Ciaron Maher said it was not that long ago that he thought the Annual dream was over for the import purchase. The horse was scratched from a flat race at Sandown after playing up…

Steven Pateman rides Zed Em to victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase Picture: Jake Nowakowski Rivals can expect jockey Steven Pateman to be as formidable as ever during jumps racing's version of Melbourne Cup week at Warrnambool. Jumps racing will provide showpiece contests on all three days of the carnival, starting with Tuesday's $175000…

It would not be Warrnambool if trainer Eric Musgrove did not win a jumps race at the May Carnival. Musgrove has been coming to the three-day Carnival for more than 40 years and has won the feature jumps races - the Grand Annual Steeplechase, Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle - on numerous occasions. With a new breed of trainer now coming…

Declan Maher knows only too well what is required to win Australia's longest race, Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase. A round table discussion between those involved in Stern Idol has led the jumper to the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained former French jumper had been entered for the Brierly…

William McCarthy has only been a regular in Australian form guides for a little more than a year but he has already built a feature-race CV many jumps jockeys with decades experience would be jealous of. The Irishman on Sunday won a stirring edition of the $350000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) aboard the Paul Preusker-trained St Arnicca at…

Flying Agent (NZ) ridden by Lee Horner jumps on his way to winning the Hammonds Paints Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Photo / Racing Photos. Trainer Amy McDonald, rider Lee Horner and their banner horse Flying Agent gained compensation for last year's Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) defeat by winning the latest edition of the 3450m race at…

This Thursday marks four weeks until the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival and D-day is looming regarding whether Gold Medals makes a historic 10th appearance at the jumps extravaganza. Trainer Symon Wilde will in the next week get serious with the 12-year-old's work to determine whether he attempts to defend his Grand Annual Steeplechase crown. The…

Jumps racing will take centre stage at Warrnambool again this week and Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald says she can't help but feel the anticipation. Last year, McDonald carried the weight of expectation into the first day of the three-day May racing carnival, but she was put at ease when her star jumper Flying Agent won the $150000 Brierly…

Snow Leopardess must defy the statistics to win Saturday's £1million Randox Grand National at Aintree but don't bet against it - she already has an odds-defying tale of a career. The Charlie Longsdon-trained 12-1 shot heads to Aintree trying to become the first mare to win the most famous steeplechase in the world since Nickel Coin in 1951 and only…

Lightly raced jumper Eion provided an ominous warning to his potential ARC Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) rivals when he took out an action packed CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. The Pakuranga Hunt Cup is the major lead-up race to the Great Northern and the Ken Duncan-trained Eion looked spot on for his upcoming challenge…

WINNING FEELING: Liam Hoy and Symon Wilde celebrate Gold Medals' remarkable victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase. Picture: Chris Doheny Vic Douglas trained three Waterfront by Lyndoch Living Grand Annual Steeplechase winners and never shed a tear. But the waterworks came before his son, jockey Clayton, crossed the finished line aboard champion…

Footballers would equate jockey Shane Jackson's task with coming out of retirement for a Grand Final. Jackson retired from race riding after the Jericho Cup meeting in November last year but has decided to return to the saddle once more to ride Bit Of A Lad, part-owned by Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown, in Thursday's Grand Annual Steeplechase…

Jockey Shane Jackson will return to the saddle for one ride in Thursday's Grand Annual Steeplechase. Picture: Colleen Petch Footballers would equate jockey Shane Jackson's task with coming out of retirement for a Grand Final. Jackson retired from race riding after the Jericho Cup meeting in November last year but has decided to return to the saddle…

Bit Of A Lad may not have the longevity at the May Three-Day Carnival that Gold Medals has, but the way he is shaping he will have the opportunity to bypass that galloper. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained seven-year-old will be lining-up for the fifth year at the Warrnambool Carnival, chasing a second win in the Brierly Steeplechase on…

Warrnambool's Ciaron Maher claimed a fifth Grand Annual in clinical fashion, with Ablaze torching his rivals as an odds-on favourite in front of an empty trackside hill. Champion Zed Em, under Arron Lynch, who replaced Stephen Pateman following an earlier fall, set the tempo in the 5500-metre challenge. But Ablaze rounded him up just after the…

Dual purpose jockey Clayton Douglas has been attending the Warrnambool May carnival for as long as he can remember. His father Vic trained three winners of the Grand Annual Steeplechase (Hoki 1995-96, Miracle Star 2000) while Clayton's first ride in the 5500m marathon resulted in victory aboard the Symon Wilde-trained Gold Medals in 2018. They ran…

That was in the 2012 Great Norther Steeplechase when 20-year-old Phelan's fledgling jumps riding career got a major boost through the deeds of the then sprightly eight-year-old jumper. It was a watershed season for Phelan as Tom's Myth struck career best form and won the northern after earlier winning the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase and…

Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase was delayed after Chris McCarthy was dislodged at an early jump in the race preceding the day's feature. McCarthy fell from Twin Spinner after that horse slipped upon landing early in the Henry Dwyer Racing Steeplechase leaving McCarthy with a suspected shoulder injury. The incident happened early in the…

As a Warrnambool stalwart, trainer Aaron Purcell is always looking forward to the annual Three-Day Carnival in the seaside town each May. The Grand Annual Steeplechase is the feature of the Carnival and Purcell, as a former winner with Ginolad in 2008, would love nothing more than to add another trophy to his cabinet. Purcell has recently returned…