Former long-serving Racing Victoria steward Frank Beattie rates Steve Pateman as one of the best jumps jockeys to have ridden in the sport.
Beattie, a steward in Victoria’s south west, made his comments after watching Pateman ride $1.75 favourite Wil John to victory in the Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool last Sunday.
Pateman, holder of a dual (jumps jockey/trainer) licence, was riding at only his second meeting since returning from an 11-month disqualification.
“Steve has to be up there with the best jumps jockeys that I’ve seen from any era,” Beattie said.
“It’s unfair and difficult to compare champions from different eras but Steve is as good as any that I’ve seen in my 55 years as a steward and I was fortunate to have seen some of the best.
“I think Steve’s an amazing horseman. He’s got excellent balance on a horse and gives his mounts every chance in the run.
“His ride on Wil John was a phenomenal effort. Steve has the ability to sum up where he is and where his rivals are in the run very quickly. He doesn’t make many errors, and that’s important.
“Another key to his success is that he’s had relatively few falls in his long career.”
Sunday’s win on Wil John saw Pateman complete a double, having steered Alakahan ($1.75 favourite) to victory in a restricted hurdle earlier on the card.
Wilde lauds brave Fab
Bold front-running local jumper Fabalot lost no supporters running second in the Lafferty Hurdle at the Warrnambool meeting.
Fabalot ($3.20) was run down by novice jumper Prismatic ($2.30 favourite) at the end of the 3200 metres.
Trainer Symon Wilde said the seven-year-old was brave in defeat.
“We carried six kilograms more than Prismatic and that told the story in the end,” he said.
“It’s no disgrace to run second to Prismatic,” he added. “He’s a rising top jumper.
“We’ll look at some of the big hurdle races later in the season for Fabalot.”
Fabalot took his earnings in jumps races past $230,000 from 12 starts with Sunday’s placing.
Earlier, Wilde was delighted by the maiden hurdle win of Hit The Road Jack ($4).
“It was a good win,” he said. “I think he’s got a nice career in front of him.
“His first run on the flat for us at Caulfield was very good and we thought he’d run well on Sunday — he’d schooled up well.
“We’ll probably take him back to town for another flat run before giving him another hurdle start. I think next year he’ll come back into work an even better jumper.”
Meanwhile, Wilde is setting his tough jumper Elvison for another tilt at a Casterton steeplechase. Elvison, who has an imposing jumps record over the live hedges at the picturesque Casterton circuit, is being set for the club’s last jumps meeting of the year, on July 28.
Moor keen
Warrnambool-born, Singapore-based jockey Daniel Moor is looking forward to the Victorian spring after making a rushed trip to ride at Flemington last Saturday.
Moor, 39, had seven rides on the nine-race card before jetting back to Singapore for Sunday’s meeting there.
His best result on Flemington’s Finals Day was a fourth on Duke Of Hastings, but he is looking forward to returning.
“The results didn’t go the way we wanted but that’s racing,” he said.
“Sadly, racing in Singapore comes to an end in October.
“I’ve really loved my time there. It’s a great climate and it helps that you only race once a week.
“I find it hard to take the cold winters in Melbourne and who knows, I might head to Malaysia or Mauritius for winter next year.
“I’m really looking forward to be back riding in Melbourne over the spring for some loyal clients and trainers.”
The Warrnambool College old boy should be in demand this spring, as a multiple Group 1 winner who can ride comfortably in the 53.5kg-54kg range.