Jumpers on Fire at Hastings

Media Release - Saturday July 2

The local training partnership of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal dominated proceedings at Hastings on Saturday, winning all four jumping races on the card including the two feature events.

Quality jumper The Cossack soars over a fence on his way to victory at Hastings Photo credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew

After promising hurdler Noess kicked off the day with a gritty win for rider Shaun Phelan, it was champion jumper The Cossack who provided a further example of his toughness and tenacity as he lumped 73kgs to victory in the Te Whangai Romney’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m).

Starting at the prohibitive odds of $1.50 in the feature jumping event, the eight-year-old son of Mastercraftsman was expected to win comfortably and that looked to be the case when he eased into contention behind the leaders with 800m to run.

However, Kajino soon skipped to five-length lead and made the favourite feel every kilogram of his hefty impost as he set out in pursuit of the Cambridge visitor.

Class would ultimately prevail despite The Cossack jumping the last awkwardly, with the star jumper winning by three lengths from Kajino with Tahuroa Heights battling on well for third.

Advertisement

Nelson had gone into the day knowing he had a big chance in each race the team contested but wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

“We won five races on Queen’s Birthday Monday and that was very special, but this is just as good and maybe even a little better today,” he said.

“I knew we had fit horses and with some luck we could win one or two, but you don’t know what will happen as racing can be quite a fickle game at times.

“We have always targeted this day with our horses so to pick up the four wins and the two big ones is very special.”

Nelson had been confident The Cossack could win again despite carrying at least six kilos more than his rivals but admitted the effort had taken a fair bit out of his champ.

“He knows he has had a race alright as he looks pretty tired now he has cooled down,” Nelson said.

“Shaun did say he wasn’t as bright as he normally is and that may be the after effect of the steeplechase he had the other day.

“He didn’t manage that last fence very well but thankfully neither did the other horse so he managed to get away with it.

“We still haven’t really decided what the programme ahead is for him, so we will let him get over this and then make a decision.”

The Cossack has now won nine of his 14 starts over hurdles and 13 races in total for prizemoney of just over $400,000.

Nelson and McDougal also swept the two steeplechase contests with Phelan at his bustling best to land The Anarchist a narrow winner of a maiden contest before he had to settle for second aboard race favourite No Tip behind stablemate Argyll in the AHD Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m).

Having piloted Argyll to victory in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at his most recent start, Phelan left the mount to visiting Englishman Charlie Case who produced a front-running special aboard the Gallant Guru gelding as he dictated proceedings throughout.

Although he mixed his jumping in the latter stages, Argyll looked to have plenty in hand as No Tip tackled him approaching the last fence and so it proved as he raced clear to win comfortably by eight lengths with West Coast battling on well for third.

“We knew we had two good chances in the big chase and it didn’t really worry me who won as long as it was one of ours,” Nelson said.

“Argyll was very strong and although he muffed one of his fences, he also put some good leaps in that made ground for him in the running.

“He finishes his races off well and he did that again today.

“We might have a look at Riccarton and the Grand National carnival with him next as I’m pretty sure he will like those South Island fences and he is in a good vein of form.”

Nelson and McDougal have now won 23 races for the season which places them in the top twenty on the national trainers’ premiership. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Savabeel Stayer wins G3 Counties Cup
Promising stayer Nereus put his current campaign back on track when he captured an action packed Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) on Saturday.
Luberon Keeps Winning Run Going for Cambridge Stud
Quality mare Luberon put a classy field of sprinters to the sword at Pukekohe on Saturday when she dashed away in the closing stages to score a handsome victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).
Stakes Potential for Cambridge Stud Homebred Mare Frostfair
Luberon’s heroics in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) gave trainer Lance Noble reason to expect something special from her trackwork companion Frostfair in the very next race on the card at Pukekohe on Saturday, and so it proved.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).