Rayner on a fact-finding mission with Lord Spencer
Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) has seen a fair bit of the North Island this week and trainer JJ Rayner is hoping it culminates with a maiden steeplechase victory at Te Aroha on Monday.
The Wanganui jumper has shown plenty of talent over hurdles, winning three races over the smaller fences, including the 2024 edition of the Great Northen Hurdle (4200m), and placed in last year’s Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m).
He resumed this year with two placings on the flat before winning a high weight over 2200m at Woodville last month, much to the delight of Rayner.
“He seems a different horse this time, he is really interested in what he is doing and is loving life,” she said.
He then ran fourth in his resuming run over hurdles at Te Rapa last week, and Rayner was happy enough with the run, citing his preference for heavier going and longer distances.
“He was up a bit handier than he normally does go,” Rayner said. “There were some very smart horses in front of him. He just might get the edge over ones like that with a bit more distance and sting out of the track if we did go back to the hurdles.”
But his first test over steeplechase fences looms on King’s Birthday Monday at Te Aroha where he will contest the Frank & Annie Matijasevich Memorial Maiden Steeplechase (3500m), for which he is an even money favourite with TAB bookmakers.
While naturally nervous ahead of Monday’s contest, Rayner is confident of a bold showing after taking him south to Trentham earlier this week to school over steeplechase fences.
“We took him down to Trentham during the week with a few others and he had a school around there and he jumped really nicely, so that was good to see a live chase,” she said.
Rayner believes Lord Spencer will suit racing over the bigger fences but said she will learn a lot after his steeplechase debut on Monday.
“It just might suit him going a bit further and over the bigger jumps, if he is going to switch off and then run home,” she said. “Hopefully all goes well.
“As long as he gets around safely and has a good look at them this time and learns a bit, that is the main thing.”
Monday’s effort will dictate Lord Spencer’s future targets, with Rayner leaning towards steeplechases if he performs up to expectations.
“We will have a chase, see how we go, and hopefully we carry on with the chases, but there is no saying we won’t go back to a hurdle if we want to,” she said.
“Our main goals will be the chases down south, and if not, it will be the hurdles, and the same with the Northern.”
