“I’VE never sat on anything like Stern Idol,” said Willie McCarthy on dismounting after partnering the Irish-bred gelding to a 20-length win in last Sunday’s feature, the A$125,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase over 3,500 metres at Pakenham.

Formerly trained in France by Stephanie Nigge, and later Patrice Quinton, the Raven’s Pass six-year-old is now in the yard of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and races in the colours of Gerry Ryan.

Ryan, also the breeder of Stern Idol, has an association with Nigge who travelled with Americain to Australia when he won the 2010 Melbourne Cup for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré with Ryan a half-share owner.

Having made the transition to steeplechasing this year, Stern Idol won impressively at his first test in April before failing to finish the course in the Grand Annual Steeplechase.

Facile win

Back in distance and away from the bottomless surface that Warrnambool was in May, Sunday’s win was facile. To the front early and out by a dozen lengths at the halfway, it was just a matter of ‘how far?’.

“He’s just unbelievable, I’ll take no credit for that at all, I’m just a passenger on him. The only thing I had to do was to give him a few breathers during the race,” added McCarthy.

Stern Idol will now progress to the Crisp Steeple before a likely Grand National Steeple start at Ballarat in August.

“It was a credit to the whole team for getting him back. He’s a monster of a horse. He’s so exciting,” said Declan Maher, the brother of Ciaron who runs the jumps yard.

“It was a great ride by Willie who knew what he had underneath him. He waited, gave him a breather and let him quicken up again. He’s got a great technique and he’s an effortless jumper”.

Bedford takes Drechsler Hurdle

TOMMY Ryan landed the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle aboard Bedford, for father and son duo of Anthony and Sam Freedman at Pakenham last Sunday. Introduced to hurdles 12 months ago, the rising 10-year-old has found a new edge to his racing winning three of his four jumps starts including Sunday’s feature.

“He is exciting,” said Ryan. “He is a big horse as well, so I’d say he wouldn’t have any problem jumping a fence. It’s an honour to ride a winner for the Freedmans in these colours,” Ryan added in reference to the red, white sleeves, purple sash and cap that have been carried to numerous Freedman Group 1 wins including the 1992 Melbourne Cup with Subzero. Purchased for NZ$320,000 at the 2015 Karaka Ready to Run, Bedford has accrued over A$530,000, landing Sunday’s win, his 10th overall, from Instigator with the Irish-bred Bell Ex One third.

TOMMY Sherry took a smart win at Randwick on Saturday piloting the Irish-bred Tazaral to victory for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden in a A$150,000 1,600 metre handicap. Originally trained by Dermot Weld and bred by the Aga Khan, Tazaral is by Fastnet Rock out of Tarana, making him a half-brother to Tarnawa and Tahiyra, with this his first win in Australia from four starts. “Gee, I liked that turn of foot that he had and he sustained a good gallop for a long while,” said Peter Snowden. “While I was at Royal Ascot, his sister won a Group 1, so I feel a bit left out here. He might be on his way now.”