THE French-bred Myboycharlie gelding Saunter Boy has defended his A$150,000 Australian Hurdle title, demolishing his rivals by nine lengths under his top-weight of 71kgs across Sandown’s 3,900 metres.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, it was the nine-year-old’s sixth feature from eight wins from 11 starts over jumps.

“He was phenomenal today,” said an emotional Declan Maher, Ciaron’s brother and foreman of their jumps team. “I can’t help myself when I get a bit of a tear happening. To see him striding out like that up the straight at Sandown in the sunshine, it doesn’t get much better.

“It was a fantastic ride by Steve (Pateman), we knew he had the weight. Steve put him in a bit more of a forward position today. He was very confident going into it. He said he loves the track. It’s just fantastic.”

Leading the way over the final lap and jumping cleanly, Saunter Boy had that touch of class across the closing stages on the flat to put the contest away with ease. Placed were Tamarack and Zedstar.

“He’s easily one of the best I’ve ridden and he’s just getting easier to ride. He’s doing everything right. His jumping’s great, he’s in the right camp, so just keep it all together. He’s unreal,” said Steven Pateman.

On the horizon is the $300,000 Grand National Hurdle over 4,200 metres at Sandown on August 7th.

BEATEN by a head three weeks earlier in the Brierly Steeplechase, Britannicus got his feature race win at Sandown, landing the $150,000 Australian Steeple by six lengths from his stablemate Elvison with the Irish-bred Once Were Lost third.

Rolling freely in front under a good hold across the 3,900 metres, Britannicus was guided to an all-the-way win by rider Arron Lynch and the result was never in doubt.

“When I walked the track, I knew this would be his sort of ground,” said trainer Symon Wilde.

“He was desperately unlucky in the Brierly (a wet track) and he made amends today. He’s a terrific jumper.

“He really flies through the air, but it’s heart-in-your-mouth sort of stuff with two jumps to go, as he was bolting.”

The cleverly named Britannicus, by Holy Roman Emperor, has now won four of his 15 jumps starts.