The 6400m of the Great Northern Steeplechase is a test of will and stamina being three times over the Ellerslie hill, so when a tearaway leader happens there is no panic from and riders at all. Eric The Viking was so far in front for the majority of the race that he had landed over some fences when the rest were taking off to clear the one prior. It was a colossal lead that could never last and when he hit the wall so to speak energy wise at the 600m he stopped to a walk and staggered home over one hundred lengths behind. The winner Jack Romanov was third throughout albeit very distant and when he surged down the hill for the last time the race was as good as over. He showed today he could handle the hill three times and drew out to win by sixteen lengths. Jack Romanov was winning his seventh race today of which five are now as a steeplechaser and the 7yo will be back to defend his crown next year for sure. The gelding fittingly is by Ustinov, which was trained by the late great Bart Cummings who was sadly lost to the racing world community just six days earlier. Ustinov only won two races but was placed four times at G1 and his dam was none other than Let’s Elope, a super mare also trained by Bart. Let’s Elope in 1991 had a wonder Melbourne Spring winning the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) plus the G1 Mackinnon (200m) and G2 Turnbull (1800m). Bart Cummings is woven into the fabric of Australasian racing forever. Snodroptwinkletoes came from a long last to loom into contention down the bottom of the hill the last time and ran a brave second, The mare had finished fourth in this two years ago. Amanood Lad, the winner last year, raced a distant second throughout and tried hard but third in a gap was his lot. A maiden on the flat and as a jumper in The Oysterman finished a distant fourth but his time will come as no doubting his stamina. The rest were beaten a long way out and Mr Mor did not even complete the final two fences and was retired. The size of the Great Northern field has been shrinking ever since it got moved from the traditional Queen’s Birthday weekend in June to a now September early spring date. There are enough wet tracks appearing in March, April and May to get the steeplechasers ready for June and Ellerslie does cop wet tracks an awful lot in this period. The moved Derby and Auckland Cup can testify to that. A move back to June would fix something that was not broken anyway and would most likely draw a larger and more productive field. Jack Romanov can come back next year and win it again being an 8yo to defend his title then but the runner up Snodroptwinkletoes will be a 10yo if he comes back and Amanood Lad a 12yo. The most likely quinella will be Oysterman a 9yo.next season.