The Patrick Payne-trained Sing For Peace (NZ) (Tavistock) stamped himself as a star of jumps racing with a determined victory in Sunday’s Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside.

Sing For Peace was considered the main danger to the champion Stern Idol, who was chasing his fourth consecutive Crisp Steeplechase success at his final start.

At their most recent clash, in the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown Lakeside on May 31, Sing For Peace was dominant, scoring by 10 lengths, with Stern Idol third, under 76.5 kg, 12.5 lengths behind the winner.

Stern Idol was sent out a warm favourite on Sunday, with the significant weight swing (9.5kg) an obvious factor.

It wasn’t the fairytale finish for the Ciaron Maher-trained Stern Idol, however, who tired late after leading for much of the trip.

Sing For Peace, meanwhile, was strong at the end of the contest, and jockey Tom Ryan had to pull out all the stops to see off the challenge of the late closer Mr Lincoln.

“I think jumps racing was the winner there. It was a fantastic race,” stable representative Neil Greaves said.

“I think it’s a perfect time to salute the great Stern Idol. He didn’t win today, but he’s been a great jumper the last four years.

“The scene is changing a bit and we’re lucky enough to have some of the better ones at the moment.

“It’s a great thrill to win that race, we were only hopeful at the start of the day.

“It was a great ride from Tommy Ryan and a great training effort from Patrick Payne.”

Sing For Peace’s win handed Payne a jumps double, after Split (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who survived a float accident earlier in the year, took out the Tom McGinley Hurdle (3400m) under Will Gordon.

And for Ryan, it was a feature race double, with the likeable Irishman getting the job done on Andy Win (NZ) (Almanzor) in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m).

“I thought we had thrown it away at the top of the hill, he made a really bad mistake and I don’t know how he stood up, to be honest,” Ryan explained.

“I had to give him every chance. I thought the bird had flown, as in Stern Idol down the hill. I was really outpaced down the hill, but he battled all the way to the line and he made a really good jump at the last.

“I didn’t think we had held on, but luckily enough we did.” - Racing.com

Andy Win toughs out Grand National Hurdle win

The Australian Grand National Steeplechase will come under consideration for Andy Win (NZ) (Almanzor) after his tough win in the A$250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday. 

Andy Win was sent out a $3 second favourite in the field of five, with the Ciaron Maher-trained Ongatiti heading the market at $1.90, while his stablemate, Ardakan, went off as a $5.50 chance.

Ardakan, under Martin Kelly, made the play for much of the race, and while he seemed to be travelling sweetly in the lead a long way from home, Andy Win appeared to be labouring.

With 600 metres to go, Ardakan saw off the challenge of Ongatiti, as Andy Win rallied to pose a serious threat to the 2022 G2 Italian Derby hero. The pair settled down for a tooth-and-nail scrap, and it was Andy Win that proved too good, scoring by 1.25 lengths, with Embezzler in third.

“After jumping two flights at the start of the race I thought we were in trouble, he wasn’t travelling, he wasn’t travelling at all,” Trainer Shane Jackson admitted.

“I do believe if the track was softer, just a slower tempo, he would have been more comfortable.”

The A$350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) is run at the all-jumps program at Ballarat on August 16 and Jackson said providing Andy Win pulls up well from Sunday's success he would take his place. 

Andy Win qualified to race over the bigger jumps at Coleraine on July 20 which Jackson said may have contributed to the jumper being tentative early in the race.

"We'll let the horse tell us, but that was the plan coming here," Jackson of competing at Ballarat. 

"We ran today with the option of the Grand National Steeplechase at the end of the season. 

"That's why he had a trial over them and that's why he probably jumped a few like fences early on in the race, he jumped them a bit careful. 

"I'm glad we've qualified him over fences because, the slower tempo in a steeplechase might be right up his alley." 

Jackson praised Ryan for his effort in getting Andy Win home. 

"I don't think there's any jockey, apart from Tom Ryan that would have won on him today," Jackson said.

"He looked gone up the back and he had to keep him up to the job. 

"Maybe the ground wasn't quite soft enough for him and there was a lot of speed, but he toughed it out. 

"What a thrill."  - RAS Newswire

Crocetti looks set for Spring targets

High class sprinter Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) looks right on target for his early season targets after never getting out of second gear during a stunning open class trial win over 1050m at Ruakaka on Saturday. 

The Danny Walker and Arron Tata-prepared six-year-old was having his first public appearance since finishing last in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) where post-race tests revealed he was impeded by a respiratory issue. 

A noted fresh performer, the son of Zacinto jumped fairly in the trial before moving forward to sit third for rider Masa Hashizume before attacking the pacemakers rounding the home bend. 

Hashizume never moved a muscle as Crocetti eased clear of State Of Valour and Wolfgang on his inner, cantering to the line with a two length margin over that pair while last season’s dual Group One winner First Five strolled into fourth under a hard hold. 

Walker was pleased with the return by his stable star after being given a long, slow build-up over the past two months. 

“He’s had a good spell and is coming back in the right order I hope,” Walker said. 

“He’s been in for about two and a half months doing a lot of slow work and has been looked after. 

“That (the trial) will bring him on nicely. 

“He just had a bit of mucous and stuff after the Railway so we had to treat him and decided to give him a good spell.” 

Walker is still undecided on a first up target for his charge, with track conditions over the next few weeks to have a major bearing on whether he contests the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on 27 August or waits for the first Group One of the season, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on 5 September. 

“It hasn’t been that wintery so far but it would be nice if the weather was good as it is hard to imagine the way Te Rapa will be as it has been so wet lately, but it is in the lap of the gods,” he said. 

“The Proisir Plate at Ellerslie is more logically the go.” 

Crocetti will be looking to expand on his already outstanding career record which sits at nine wins from just 17 starts, including the 2023 Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and 2025 Gr.1 Sistema Railway. 

The day got even better for Walker and Tata as Crocetti’s little half-sister Shalabiya (NZ) (Brazen Beau) looked to have inherited all the family ability when thrashing a handy maiden field over 1200m by more than five lengths in the second event on the card. - Kevin Robertson LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Greene on weather watch for Foxbridge

David Greene hopes to have his multiple Group One winner First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) at the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in three weeks’ time, but won’t hesitate to bypass the feature if conditions aren’t to suit.  

A standout winner of last season’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), there were plenty of eyes on the gelding at Ruakaka on Saturday when he stepped out for an open trial over 1050m.  

Regular jockey Wiremu Pinn opted to settle midfield while fellow topliner Crocetti sat three deep before taking over on the home turn, where he remained comfortably through the line. First Five was equally impressive, cruising in fourth place at the post under a hold.  

Greene was pleased with what he saw from the son of Almanzor, particularly on the softer surface.  

“He’s done everything really well and what we’ve asked of him at this stage, so we thought it was a good opportunity to take him up the highway and stretch his legs, and blow off few cobwebs for him,” he said.  

“Wiremu said he felt great, he said the track might’ve been slightly on the softer side then he’d ideally like, but he suggested that if he had given him a squeeze, you would’ve seen a lot there. 

“That’s not what we’re here for today, but it should put him in a really good spot hopefully for three weeks’ time.” 

The Foxbridge is Greene’s ideal next step for First Five, but said he wouldn’t hesitate to scratch if rain comes at his local track.  

“Originally you probably don’t think you’ll get the track (to suit), but we haven’t had the rainfall this winter that we’d normally get,” he said. “He’s not a definite for that race, so if you’re punting the earlies and it rains on Friday, don’t be ringing me up and saying you have to run it. 

“That would be a nice springboard because he does take a run or two to be at peak form, then he can space himself out from there and hold that space.” 

If no Foxbridge, it may be straight into the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 5, followed by the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) back at Hastings later in the month.  

“(We are targeting) the first two Triple Crown races, and then we’ll just reassess from there,” Greene said. “The 1400 is the main target of this prep, that’s why we’ve got him up nice and early.  

“We want to make sure that’s not a lead up for anything, it’s the main target. 

“He’s dynamite at 1400, that’s the one we want to win this spring.” 

First Five is right in the market for all three races, currently at $4.50 chance in the Foxbridge, $5 in the Proisir and $4.50 in the Howden Insurance Mile. - Jess de Lautour LOVERACING.NZ News Desk