IRISHMEN Shane Jackson and Jordan Hart have combined to take out a memorable Grand National Hurdle at Sandown last Sunday.

Jackson, who won two Nationals as a jockey, saddled up the German-bred Loft, for which he flew in National Hunt jockey Sean Flanagan for the ride, and Highland Blaze with apprentice Jordan Hart in the saddle.

Tom Ryan, who had been on Loft at his previous start, elected to stay with the race favourite The Cunning Fox, who he combined with to win the Australian Hurdle in June.

Out of the gates at the 4,200m mark in the A$250,000 feature, Highland Blaze took up the running having won three of his previous four hurdle starts. Jumping cleanly and looking alert, his heels were most in view of his rivals.

Hart rated his charge perfectly out in front and, when challenged in the straight, he produced ‘the persuader’ to which Highland Blaze responded, drawing clear to post a five-length victory. Second was Affluential, the full-brother to Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, whilst Right Now took third.

The Cunning Fox was eased out of the race with 1,600m remaining. Racing Victoria vets later found that The Cunning Fox had suffered cardiac arrhythmia.

Superstar

“What a horse,” said Shane Jackson. “He came to me for the Jericho Cup (December 2024) and then has only had two weeks off. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. What a superstar.

“Brilliant for the jockey. He still claimed 3kg and he rode him like a professional. He does a lot of work for me and he deserves his chance. He’s ridden him perfectly every time.”

From Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, Jordan Hart, who came to Australia looking for greater riding opportunities, landed his first winner in October last year when he won a 2,350m maiden on Dempsey Girl at Warrnambool.

Fast forward 10 months and he won a Grand National Hurdle and improved his record on Highland Blaze to four wins from five rides.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Hart. “I didn’t want to be out in front, but he ended up there. He was good, like he was real good. Even when he’s wrong at one he’s just so economical.

“He hits the ground running. It takes nothing out of him, yeah he loves it, he pricks his ears at every hurdle.”

Over the moon

Hart was asked if his family would have tuned in from Ireland. “Absolutely, I know my mum had the alarm set for this morning since yesterday, so my parents will be watching. They’d still be shouting at the TV. I’m just over the moon.”

It can’t be underestimated the faith placed in Hart by Jackson and his connections, including former trainer Jackson Pallot who sent Highland Blaze to Jackson.

“Shane has been amazing to me from the word go,” added Hart. “I started working with him just before Christmas and he said ‘Look Highland Blaze would be probably going over hurdles next season, you do the work, you put in the work, you can ride him’.

“In fairness, he’s stuck to his word, the owners have been great, they’re happy to leave me on at these big days. Just a big thanks to all of them.”

STERN Idol has emulated the feats of Ciaron Maher’s former star jumper Bashboy, equalling his 14 jumps victories, after he claimed a third successive Crisp Steeple at Sandown on Sunday.

The only chink in his armour appears to be when he is stretched beyond the 4,200m of the Crisp.

His three starts over further ground, two Grand National Steeples (4,500m) and a Grand Annual (5,500m), have seen Ciaron Maher’s stable star fail to finish the course on each occasion.

“I’ll leave that up to the team,” was the response by Steven Pateman when prodded on the prospect of a ‘third-time lucky’ look at the Grand National Steeple on August 17th at Ballarat.

Leading from the start, carrying 71kg, giving his rivals a minimum 5kg advantage, Stern Idol, as a $1.09 favourite, was untroubled in the A$100,000 feature.

Drifted away

Heading over the hill at the back of Sandown for the final time, Stern Idol drifted away from his pursuers as a 15-length, and then 20-length gap opened up, prompting Pateman to have a peek across his shoulder.

“Half-way up the hill, I couldn’t hear the other horses. You usually hear them, but I couldn’t,” recounted Pateman. “It’s a funny feeling as you’re the only one who can muck it up.”

Cruising through the remainder, the margin on the line was 15 lengths with Pateman easing down in the closing stages. Second was Tom Ryan on Not Usual Dream as Willie McCarthy and Field Of Lights took third.

“Today was actually another track gallop,” added Pateman. “It’s crazy to say, but he felt the best he ever has today, and he looked amazing, so a shout-out to the Ballarat crew. They just had him on today and he absolutely galloped.”

THE Spring Features are beginning to take shape with nominations for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate having closed on Tuesday.

Twelve internationals have nominated for the A$5 million Caulfield Cup on October 18th, with Joseph O’Brien putting forward Al Riffa, Galen, Sons And Lovers and Trustyourinstinct, while his father had just the one, Mount Kilimanjaro. Willie Mullins has two nominations, Absurde and Hipop De Loire. Simon and Ed Crisford nominated Meydaan and Alessandro Botti has Presage Nocturne.

Three Japanese horses, Golden Snap, Meiner Chysola and Struve, make up the 12 internationals.

The A$6 million Cox Plate on October 25th, has 11 International nominations, headed by Aidan O’Brien’s quartet of Bedtime Story, Whirl, Diego Velazquez and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Joseph O’Brien has Al Riffa and Galen, Richard Hannon has Haatem and Persica, while Jessica Harrington nominated Hotazhell, and Brian Meehan entered Rashabar. The lone Japanese nomination is Cosmo Kuranda.

Aidan O’Brien was reported this week as saying: “We put a lot in the Cox Plate and it’s a race she would be eligible for. It’s a long way away, so we’ll take one step at a time. She could do anything. She could go to America, to Australia, to Hong Kong, she can go anywhere really.”

Australian greats Makybe Diva and Winx (four times) are on it’s roll of honour and Via Sistina struck for the females last season.

“I think the Cox Plate itself is certainly still very much on the international radar and I’d like to think that the $1 million (prize money) increase direct to the winner has also had an impact,” said Moonee Valley Racing Club’s head of racing Charlotte Mills.