Jerricoop impressive in steeplechasing debut
Jerricoop (NZ) (Zed) showed his prowess early as a steeplechaser when coming out on top in a thrilling finish to Sunday’s K & R Steeplechase (3500m) at Te Aroha.
The son of Zed headed north from Harvey Wilson’s Waverley base to make his debut over the bigger fences, having won over hurdles at the venue last season. Despite his inexperience, he was fancied in the market and closed equal-favourite with Mont Ventoux.
In the hands of Hamish McNeill, Jerricoop settled into a good rhythm in the first half of the field, negotiating his fences nicely while Odysseus took on the pace making role. There were a host of runners still in contention as the pressure dialed up, with Top Street, Auld Jock, Mont Ventoux and Jerricoop kicking clear heading down to the final fence.
Auld Jock hit the lead soon after landing but Jerricoop utilized his pace on the flat in the closing stages, getting the upper hand to take the win by a long head. Top Street was just a head back in third, with Mont Ventoux a length back in fourth.
Wilson was delighted with the performance, praising the ride of McNeill and also the efforts of his horse.
“It’s great, we’re very happy,” he said. “Being his first steeplechase, we were very pleased, I thought Hamish rode him very well and gave him every opportunity.
“You’re always a little concerned at their first steeplechase start, I haven’t seen the replay yet and I think he may have muffed one, but majority he jumped well and he’ll learn from that.
“He wasn’t quite up to the better horses hurdling, he won one and had a couple of placings but wasn’t quite up to those better ones so steeplechasing is the obvious next way to go.”
In the ownership alongside his wife Ann, Wilson has been training Jerricoop for just under two years, having taken over from fellow Waverley conditioner Erin Hocquard following his flat career.
“Erin did a grand job producing and racing him, he probably came to the end of it on the flat, so we pestered her a little bit and managed to get him as a jumper,” Wilson said.
“She is still in the ownership, which is great.”
Now a winner of over $100,000, Jerricoop is likely to head back to the Waikato for his next appearance with a steeplechase at Te Aroha on the 26th of July.
“There aren’t many races close to home other than Woodville next week, but he’s not ready for a big open steeplechase like that,” Wilson said.
“We’ll probably come back to Te Aroha in three weeks and make a plan after that.”
