Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin struck a mighty blow at Warrnambool on Tuesday, his promising jumper Duke Of Bedford ($4) taking out the Brierly Steeplechase in an awesome display.
Plotting the path of champions through the Edenhope Cup in early March, Bobbin’s six-year-old was then a narrow runner-up over the jumps at the track and trip four weeks ago before smacking his rivals in a chase at Pakenham on April 13.
Comeback jockey Willie McCarthy took the gelded son of Tavistock straight to the front from the 3450-metre start on Tuesday and fought off all comers, looked in the eye and seriously challenged by Bury The Cash ($9) and Freddie The Eagle ($7.50) approaching the home bend.
But the Bobbin-trained chaser dug deep. “Fighting them off like flies,” was the exclamation from caller Ric McIntosh, as the Duke proved too tough at the end of a riveting event.
McCarthy, who rode Stern Idol to narrowly win the same race last year, returned with two winners from two rides on Tuesday, his first jumps meeting since falling at Casterton last June.
As for Bobbin, one needed only to be near the mounting yard to see what the victory meant to him.
Fast turnaround, follow Finn
Last Saturday’s Horsham meeting threw up a mixed bag for punters, with the bagmen walking away just on top following an interesting day’s racing.
The opening race on the card saw Andrew Noblet’s $2.15 shot Denial outgunned in the home straight by Nell Carter’s mare Vores ($7.50), jockey Christine Puls tracking the more fancied runner into the home straight before sweeping past to win by a length and a half.
Race two proved harder to swallow for punters, when even-money pop Glamour Ana was claimed in the last bound by the Jeff Searl-trained Like A Diamond ($15).
Jockey Paul Gatt rode the Team-Hayes-trained favourite like the best horse in the race, and even with 100 metres left to travel the win looked a foregone conclusion. However, Tom Madden threw everything at his filly to lift her late, the judge called into action but all honours to the winner, punters sent back to the drawing board for race three.
The baggies gave a bit back in the middle section of the card before Wayne Walters surprised nearly everyone when his veteran mare Fast ’N’ Forward ($51) produced a stunning form reversal to take put the first leg of the quaddie, a 2100-metre 0-58 contest.
Ridden by the trainer’s daughter Kate Walters, the eight-year-old Foxwedge mare registered her eighth career win from 54 starts, having been beaten a total of 30-plus lengths at her first three starts this time in. Six of those wins (including Saturday’s) have come on soft ground, so maybe punters missed a trick there?
The rest of the card went about to script with Liam Howley’s She Said ($3.20), World Action ($3.10) for Aaron Purcell and the Jan Wicks-trained Zemgrinda ($4.80) rounding out the card, Linda Meech and Alana Kelly sharing riding honours with two wins apiece.
One runner for the black book from Horsham — Paul Preusker’s four-year-old stayer Finnhugh ($16), who must be followed on wet ground next start, the gelded son of Shamus Award getting too far back before weaving home to finish runner-up behind Fast ’N’ Forward.
The slightly built galloper won his maiden in heavy going at Murtoa last preparation, and a rise in trip won’t hurt his chances next time out.