Western Victoria: Steve happy to slim for Saunter
By Tim Auld, April 19, 2021 - 3:30 PM

Champion jumps jockey Steve Pateman has put himself on a strict diet to ride promising jumper Saunter Boy in the $150,000 Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on May 5.
Pateman, who has won the Galleywood three times, won the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace-trained import to an impressive victory in a restricted hurdle at Pakenham last Sunday.
“I think Saunter Boy is the real deal,” Pateman said. “He’s a very good jumper and he’s more seasoned after having a couple of jumps starts last season.
“I’m confident there’s more improvement in him after the Pakenham win.”
Pateman expects Saunter Boy to be handicapped with 67kg in the Galleywood, leaving him with “a couple of kilos” to lose over the next two weeks.
“I’m lucky because (wife) Jess has a degree in sports science. She understands everything about nutrition. I’ll just watch what I eat over the next couple of weeks.”
Another key mount for Pateman at the Warrnambool carnival will be imported jumper Yensir for the Maher/Eustace stable in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, another feature the jockey has won three times.
Pateman rode the eight-year-old to win the Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank.
“I was very impressed with the win,” he said.
“He’s a nimble type of jumper who should be suited to the fences around Warrnambool.
“I was very happy with how he handled Warrnambool in a trial a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s great to see Ciaron and Dave will have a few jumpers at Warrnambool,” Pateman added. “They’re second in the Australian trainers premiership but they’re still very passionate about jumps racing and in particular the Grand Annual, which is wonderful for the sport, and I hope their love for jumps racing continues for many years to come.”
Maturity the key
Warrnambool hurdler Instigator was another to stake his claim for a Galleywood start with victory at the Pakenham meeting — in his case by seven lengths in the feature Bourke Hurdle.
Trainer Aaron Purcell said Instigator had been a slow maturer.
“He’s a quirky type,” Purcell said. “He loves jumping but he’s got a mind of his own. He’s just taken a bit of time to mature.
“He showed last season that he’s a handy type of jumper and the Galleywood has been his aim this campaign.
“He’s handy in all types of going so it won’t worry him if we get a wet track.”
Purcell paid tribute to comeback rider Braidon Small after Sunday’s victory.
“It’s great to see Braidon back in the winner’s stall,” he said.
“He’s been to hell and back since his fall two years ago but he’s worked really hard to get back on track. The win is just reward for all the hard work he’s put in.”
Small spent almost 14 months on the sidelines after falling from the Purcell-trained Startierra in April 2019. Last Sunday’s win was his first from 21 rides since returning.
Instigator has won two of his four jumps starts.
Wangoom on Regret’s radar
Local sprinter Paul’s Regret may be a starter in the Wangoom Handicap at next month’s Warrnambool carnival following her second placing in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint at Caulfield last Saturday.
Trainer Peter Chow said the Wangoom, a $175,000 listed race over 1200 metres on Wednesday May 5, was an appealing assignment for the four-year-old.
“The Wangoom is a serious option because it’s at our back door.
“She was beaten by a better horse (WA sprinter Laverrod) on Saturday but she never let us down. She’s so honest.”
Paul’s Regret took her earnings to $296,450 from 15 starts with the Caulfield second.
Honours even
Warrnambool trainers Symon Wilde and Lindsey Smith shared the honours at Terang last Sunday with a double apiece. Wilde won with Inn Keeper and Ammoudi Bay, Smith with Sovereign Gold and National Guard.
Follow these
• Literary Magnate: nice effort from the Warrnambool filly at her second start to finish second in the $1 million VOBIS Showdown, picking up a cool $182,000 for her connections. The run followed an impressive debut maiden victory and she looks a promising type.
• Taksu: made good ground late in a 1200-metre benchmark 78 at Terang on Sunday. He’ll be suited to more ground and can be followed with confidence.
• Napoleon: smart ex-Kiwi jumper who showed he’s ready for a start in the Grand Annual with a strong steeplechase win at Pakenham last Sunday.

 

 

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