Proud mum Sonja Douglas reflects on her son Clayton's 2018 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase win

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…

A bold, front-running display from Rockstar Ronnie has provided Ciaron Maher with an unmatched seventh Grand Annual Steeplechase and delivered a dream come true for Irish rider Chris McCarthy. Maher and training partner David Eustace saddled up the odds-on favourite Stern Idol, who failed to complete the course, but the UK import dared rivals to…

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…

Clayton Douglas is excited about two-year-old colt Perilous Fighter. Picture: Racing Photos A promising jumpout behind the "standout" Mornington two-year-old has emboldened trainer Clayton Douglas about Perilous Fighter in Saturday's Group 3 Chairman's Stakes (1000m) at Sandown. Perilous Fighter, a Starspangledbanner colt bought for $50000 as a…

The Everest winner Giga Kick is being aimed at the Sydney autumn carnival. Picture: Grant Guy The Everest winner Giga Kick is set to trial at Cranbourne on Monday in preparation for a Sydney autumn sprint campaign. Trainer Clayton Douglas said Giga Kick is being readied to resume racing in the Group 2 $500000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal…

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…

Giga Kick was a surprise winner of The Everest. Picture: DAVID GRAY AFP Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas can claim the credit if The Everest winner Giga Kick remains unbeaten in Saturday's Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington. Giga Kick shocked many punters when he soared to the top of Australian racing with his win in the $15m Everest at…

When Giga Kick crossed the line and took out the $14million Everest at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, it was the stuff of fairytales. The three-year-old gelding was a $21 outsider, had a rookie trainer in Clayton Douglas and was, quite simply, lucky just to be alive. 46221 eager punters - some racing fans, some not - packed into Randwick to…

Giga Kick (right) hangs on to win the Danehill Stakes over Buenos Noches at Flemington. Picture: George Sal-Racing Photos via Getty Images Giga Kick has taken trainer Clayton Douglas a huge step closer to a reward for years of hard work with his latest win in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. Douglas hails from one of Mornington's…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

View the final field and barriers for the 2019 Grand Annual Steeplechase. The Grand Annual Steeplechase will be run on Thursday 2nd May at Warrnambool racecourse. Time: 2:30PM Distance: 5500m Have Your Say: Who do you think will win the Grand Annual Steeplechase? - Comment below WATCH THIS RACE LIVE AT*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl…

View the nominations for the 2023 Grand Annual Steeplechase. The Grand Annual Steeplechase be run on Thursday, 4 May 2023 at Warrnambool racecourse. *Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T's & C's apply. Gamble responsibly.