Warrnambool-based jumps jockey Jordan Hart scored the biggest win of his career when he guided Highland Blaze to victory in the $75,000 Drechsler Hurdle at Hamilton on Sunday for fellow Irish expat Shane Jackson.
Highland Blaze ($2.90) beat stablemate and odds-on favourite Loft by a length.
Hart said it was a huge thrill to win the Drechsler, especially for his good mate Jackson.
“Highland Blaze just pricked his ears at the second last jump,” he said. “It’s the biggest win of my career and I’m grateful for all the support Shane has given me.”
The win completed a double for Jackson, who’d earlier won the Ritchie’s IGA 0-114 Hurdle (3200m) with Bignight Rebel ($8.50), ridden by yet another Irishman in Tom Ryan.
Stern schools rivals
The other feature on Sunday’s all-jumps program at Hamilton saw champion chaser Stern Idol win his third consecutive Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3400m).
The Mosstrooper and Drechsler were being run at Hamilton for the first time, having been inaugurated at Bendigo and later staged at Pakenham.
Starting a $1.07 favourite under the set-weights-and-penalties conditions, Stern Idol defeated Not Usual Dream by eight lengths, with another 3¾ lengths to Instigator in third place.
Top jumps jockey Steven Pateman had the winning ride on the Ciaron Maher-trained jumper.
“He was awesome,” Pateman said. “It was nothing more than a schooling session for him. He was never under any pressure.
“I was confident a long way out.
“Ciaron will now set him for the Crisp. It’s a race he’s won previously and he has to be the one to beat as it’s set weights and penalties again.
“I’m not sure whether Ciaron will set him for the Grand National. He’d get a big weight so I’ll leave that up to Ciaron.”
Stern Idol’s win completed a treble for Pateman on the six-race card. He’d won earlier on Alhambra Palace ($2.05 favourite) in a maiden hurdle over 3200 metres and Split ($2.90) in a maiden hurdle over 3400 metres.
“There’s plenty of upside to both winners,” he said. “I really like both horses.
“I think with a bit of time Split will develop into a top jumper. It wouldn’t surprise me if Split measured up to a race like the Grand Annual.”
Adam eyes cup week
Young Warrnambool trainer Adam Chambers is hoping for fine weather in Melbourne Cup week as he plots a spring campaign for stable star Major Share.
Major Share has won six races from 10 starts and was second in the listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap at his last appearance. Chambers says the rising five-year-old has been back in work for a month.
“Major Share is in great order,” Chambers said. “He’s come back into work a bigger and stronger horse.
“We haven’t been in a hurry with him. He’s a bit of a duffer on wet tracks so we’re holding him back.
“I know farmers including my dad (Bruce) are hoping for a wet spring but that won’t suit Major Share.
“I’d like to think he might measure up to a black-type race down the Flemington straight during Melbourne Cup week. He’s got a good record down the straight, which should hold him in good stead.”
Rose blooms but banned
Cobden-born apprentice Rose Hammond secured one of her most significant wins when she won the Rising Stars final on Lake Vostok at Flemington last Saturday.
But the victory came at a cost, as Hammond was suspended for eight meetings and copped a $1200 fine after pleading guilty to using her whip five times more than permitted prior to the 100-metre mark.
Her ban begins next Wednesday and finishes August 6.