Grand Annual Steeplechase Field

Rockstar Ronnie gives Ciaron Maher his seventh Grand Annual win. Picture by Sean McKenna WITH the curtain coming down on the 2023 racing season, it's an opportune time to reflect on some of the highs and lows of the sport which appeared in this column over the past year. Former Koroit based jockey Declan Bates to be on the sidelines for a month…

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…

Rockstar Ronnie will attempt to add the Crisp Steeplechase to his Grand Annual Steeple crown at Sandown on Sunday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images. News Corp form analyst Brad Waters runs the rule over Sunday's meeting at Sandown. SANDOWN ROCKSTAR RONNIE (Race 2 No. 1 - $5.50) Rockstar Ronnie won the Grand Annual at Warrnambool and returned…

Jockey Willie McCarthy questioned those who doubted the staying ability of Stern Idol after the imported jumper gave a dashing display to claim the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown. As Stern Idol crossed the line in the 4200m contest 25 lengths clear of his rivals on Sunday, McCarthy put his hand up to his ear. "There was a lot of doubters about him…

The Grand Annual Steeplechase is a steeplechase race held at Warrnambool Racecourse in Victoria each year. The Grand Annual Steeplechase is run over 5500m, making it the longest horse race run in Australia. The Grand Annual Steeplechase boasts a total prize pool of $350000 and is run under handicap conditions (Minimum Weight 66kg). The Grand Annual…

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…

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…

View the Final Field and Barriers for the 2023 Grand Annual Steeplechase. The Grand Annual Steeplechase will be run on Thursday, 4 May 2023 at Warrnambool racecourse. Time: 2:30pm AEST Distance: 5500m Have Your Say: Who do you think will win the Grand Annual Steeplechase - Comment below *Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T's &…

Victorian jumps racing has received a welcomed injection of prize money for the upcoming 2023 season, with the Grand Annual Steeplechase and Grand National Steeplechase now worth $400000 apiece. Racing Victoria released the 2023 jumps racing program on Tuesday, announcing that $5 million in prize money will be up for grabs across 19 jumps…

Jockey William McCarthy celebrates after Heberite won the 150th running of the Grand Annual Steeplechase in May. The prizemoney will increase by $50000 in 2023. Warrnambool's time-honoured Grand Annual Steeplechase will have a $50000 prizemoney hike in 2023 with the feature jumps race at the famous May Racing Carnival worth $400000. The Grand…

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…

Australia's longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase, is the preferred option for Budd Fox Trainer Henry Dwyer will let the weather decide which race his jumper Budd Fox will run in over the final two days of the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival. Budd Fox was entered for Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) but was not among final acceptors on…

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…

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…

Jockey Clayton Douglas has a chance to be part of a Warrnambool legend with Gold Medals on Thursday. Picture: AAP Star jockey Jamie Kah gets the plaudits most weeks but her fiance Clayton Douglas is set to relish his time in the limelight during the three-day carnival at Warrnambool this week. Both Kah and Douglas will be in action at Warrnambool…

Bit Of A Lad has tightened into $3.90 favouritism for this year's Grand Annual Steeplechase with TAB after finishing second in today's Brierly Steeplechase. Odds-on favourite Flying Agent was as impressive as the market expected in Tuesday's feature, however, will not be starting in this year's Grand Annual. Yensir ($4.40) has seen a significant…

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…

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…

The New Plymouth trainer will be listening from afar as Tobouggie Nights tackles the $75000, 5500m feature around the Trentham figure-eight course. Wheeler is in Scotland and will be a spectator at the British Open golf tournament at St Andrews next week. He is a part-owner of Tobouggie Nights and while the Wellington Steeplechase prize money will…

Symon Wilde would like nothing more than to see Gold Medals bow out of racing with a third Grand Annual Steeplechase success. Trainer Symon Wilde toyed with the idea of running Gold Medals in the Australian Steeplechase after his heroic win in Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase. But Wilde has decided on a long-range plan of trying to win a…

Racing Victoria has announced the 2023 jumps racing season that will see an additional $175000 in prize money added to the 2022 season. The prize money increase means more than $1 million has been pumped into an increase in prize money over the past two seasons. The Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in May and the Grand National Steeplechase…

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…

There was a time where it was uncommon to see a horse in Australia have their first start over a mile and even rarer at 2000m. As for a hurdle race, that is almost unheard of. But the Warrnambool May Carnival is like no other with 30 races spread over the three days with a mix of feature races for sprinters and stayers, maiden races, restricted…

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…