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Dramatic late jumps action at Ellerslie

3 minute read

Final fence chaos at Ellerslie on Saturday highlighted the unpredictable nature of jumps racing with late drama in successive events.

Just Got Home winning the The Tractor Centre Hrdl
Just Got Home winning the The Tractor Centre Hrdl Picture: Trish Dunell

The first recipients of a healthy dose of luck were Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan and champion jumps jockey Michael Mitchell when they combined for Harvest The Gold’s first success over the big fences in the BGA Marketing Steeplechase.

He was in a race of his own until both Nells Belle and Stagehand crashed at the last obstacle.

“He was only going to run third, but that’s the jumping game,” Oulaghan said. “It was his first time over the hill so it was good to win, but it is a bit of a flat performance.”

Next up in the Tractor Centre Open Hurdle and it was the turn of Pukekohe conditioner Rudy Liefting and rider Aaron Kuru to be gifted success when likely winner Boy crashed at the final flight to hand victory to Just Got Home.

“Obviously, he likes Ellerslie but we were a bit lucky with that other horse falling,” Liefting said. “I don’t know whether we would have picked him up.”

Just Got Home has covered some miles this winter following an unsuccessful two-start Victorian campaign and a trip to Christchurch.

“It was a fair space between the Grand National in Australia to the National here,” Liefting said. “He blew quite hard at Riccarton so I put as much work into him as I could.”

Just Got Home originally had the Great Northern Hurdles on his programme, but some doubt has been cast on his return for the September 5 feature.

“I don’t usually go back on a plan, but I might this time – I’m not convinced he can see out those longer, gruelling trips,” Liefting said.

He also enjoyed success at the other North Island venue with Justa Tad successful at the New Plymouth meeting.
NZ Racing News

Ellerslie

Saturday, 22nd August 2015

4
13:28
(local)

The Tractor Centre Hrdl

WT: 65kg Type: HDLE
NZD $50,000
3350m TURF HEAVY
4
13:28
(local)
NZD $50,000
3350m HEAVY

The Tractor Centre Hrdl

WT: 65kg Type: HDLE

The Premier Hurdle event here followed the dramatic maiden steeplechase prior with a last fence fall too that proved fortuitous to others. The first three home all were well back on settling but tellingly Boy, who would have won but for falling at the final fence, was a clear co-leader down the backstraight and took over under a grip across the top. Just Got Home was ridden cold and made ground tellingly into a distant third across the top before reaching second turning for home. He was going to finish second too but the leader fell at the final fence leaving him in the lead so was a tad lucky but then again you have to stay upright to score. It was his fourth win as a hurdler from nine victories overall, so that flat ability is a big tick between the fences and of course he loves the mud and Ellerslie. His stamina is the doubt regarding the Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) in a few weeks after a distant eighth in it last year. Then again the jumper depth is weaker now so the 8yo just might be give another shot at it by trainer Rudy Liefting. The runner up Lucky Tonight was super and will stay and swim all day as he covered a lot of extra ground throughout. The third finisher Ready Eddie moved into the race across the top but was going to be fourth before the home turn only to fortuitously become a dividend payer. Master Michael was not too bad after losing his spot then improving wide and while one paced he does keep grinding away. The rest were distant and must have a double over getting the Great Northern Hurdle trip of 4190m here in a few weeks. The saving grace for all is the track was a holding bog today (the last flat winner nearly ran 1:50 for the mile) and surely the footing cannot be as poor then. Boy would have won but for the last fence fall and if all is okay then no reason why he would not win the Great Northern but confidence is a big thing with leapers. Thenamesbond was uncontrollable with a saddle shifted forward after 1000m and had to be pulled up.



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 2. JUST GOT HOME (NZ) 8yo G
STORMING HOME (GB) - SHE'S JUSTA TAD (NZ)
AARON KURU
RUDY LIEFTING
$2
69.5kg
R C Hirst & Kakapo Lodge Ltd
2nd 5. LUCKY TONIGHT (NZ) 7yo G
LUCKY UNICORN (AUS) - TIGHTS DELIGHT (NZ)
MICHAEL MITCHELL
SHELLEY HOUSTON
$2
65kg
K T Marshall
3rd 9. READY EDDIE (NZ) 7yo G
YAMANIN VITAL (NZ) - TAWNCE (NZ)
M GILLIES
LAURA KNIGHT
$1.82
65kg
G A & L Knight

Sales Information

4th 12. MASTER MICHAEL (NZ) 9yo G
BACHELOR DUKE (USA) - OUTSTANDING AFFAIR (NZ)
M I GIBBS-MANSSEN
RACHEL MASTERS
$2
65kg

Sales Information

5th 3. KINGS DEEP (NZ) 9yo G
VIKING RULER (AUS) - MISTY GLEAM (NZ)
R CULLY
P NELSON
$2
69.5kg

Sales Information

6th 7. PRESTIGIOSA (NZ) 8yo M
JOHAR (USA) - EMPRESS BELLE (NZ)
ISAAC LUPTON
KEVIN MYERS
$1.7
65kg

Sales Information

7th 4. BACK IN BLACK (NZ) 10yo G
STORM CREEK (USA) - SHUTRICIA (NZ)
TOM RYAN
J J STEFFERT
$2.43
66kg

Sales Information

8th 6. WEST END (NZ) 8yo G
FALTAAT (USA) - MOUNT ALBERT LIONS (NZ)
EMILY J FARR
C PHELAN
$2
65kg
9th 11. MAGNA CARTA (NZ) 9yo G
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS (NZ) - TUCKAHOE (NZ)
RICHARD EYNON
SAMANTHA LOGAN
$2.22
65kg

Sales Information

FF 1. THENAMESBOND (NZ) 7yo G
CHINA CAT (USA) - MELBOURNE STORM (NZ)
C M STUDD
JOHN & STEPHEN RALPH
$2
70kg

Sales Information

FF 10. MONI NUI (NZ) 10yo G
D'CASH (AUS) - SHINKO BREEZE (NZ)
SHAUN PHELAN
H R MCGLADE
$2
65kg
F 8. BOY (NZ) 9yo G
PYRUS (USA) - LLANDEBRA (NZ)
REECE S COLE
TOBY AUTRIDGE
$2
65kg

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