Western Victoria: Bro's Blaze caps Brad's big day
By Tim Auld, August 22, 2016 - 5:25 PM

Talented Warrnambool horseman Brad McLean showcased his skills in the saddle at Sportsbet-Ballarat last Sunday, riding two winners over jumps and one on the flat. 
The Brad Scott-trained Kemtain in a maiden hurdle and the Darren Weir-trained Zanteco in the Houlahan Hurdle were his jumps winners, and he later won on Princely Blaze for his brother Jarrod in the McCain BM64 Highweight Handicap (1400m).
McLean is enjoying a productive season, having won the Brierly Steeplechase on Valediction and the Grand National Hurdle on Zanteco. 
Zanteco’s Houlahan Hurdle win was his fourth from eight jumps starts.
“It’s been a great day,” McLean said. 
“It was really satisfying to win on Princely Blaze for Jarrod but the other wins were also great. 
“Zanteco showed once again today he could be a jumps star next season. Full credit to Mark O’Donnell at Warrnambool for all the work he does with him.”
Weir, who has a strong group of jumpers in his stable, also trained Glorious Sinndar to win the inaugural $50,000 Ballarat Marathon Hurdle over 4000 metres.
Trainer lauds ’Tone
Tough Orford jumper Mannertone may back up in the $42,000 steeplechase over 3500 metres on Irish day at Morphettville this Saturday after winning an action-packed $30,000 Hygain Steeplechase at the Ballarat meeting.
Trainer Anne McGrath says the eight-year-old has a huge heart.
“Mannertone just gives everything in his races,” McGrath said. “The slow tempo on Sunday didn’t help his chances but he just kept on putting in. 
“He made a couple of mistakes due to the tempo but I knew there’d be no pace in the race because the track was so heavy.”
Champion jumps jockey Steve Pateman rode Mannertone to victory on Sunday but McGrath acknoweldged the work Warrnambool jumps jockey Braidon Small has done with the jumper.
“Braidon has done a lot of schooling with Mannertone,” she said. “He’s done a wonderful job keeping the horse up to scratch. 
“My daughter Rachael has also put in countless hours making sure Mannertone was ready to run today. 
“We’ve had a mixed up season with Mannertone as he wasn’t right for a few of the early jumps races but he’s back on track now. 
Mannertone took his stake earnings to $190,000 with Sunday’s win.
Tales of woe
The stewards’ report tells the tale on three Warrnambool jumpers at the Ballarat meeting. 
Aaron Purcell’s King of Dudes was a late scratching from the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase on veterinary advice due to a swollen off foreleg, the Patrick Ryan-trained I’ll’ava’alf was severely checked and brought down by the fallen Slowpoke Rodriguez (NZ) after clearing the final obstacle in the Grand National while Symon Wilde’s Danzadoozie made a faulty jump at the second obstacle in the Hygain Steeplechase and knuckled on landing, dislodging rider Martin Kelly. 
Post-race vet checks failed to reveal any abnormalities in I’ll’ava’alf or Danzadoozie. 
Both incidents were to be referred to the Jumps Review Panel for assessment.

 

 

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