Te Aroha feature on the cards for Saint Bernard
Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry is plotting a path to the Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) with Saint Bernard (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) after his dominant win at Woodville on Sunday.
The son of Dial A Prayer has been in consistent form throughout the jumping season, with a maiden steeplechase victory alongside placings in open grade in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m).
He was fancied in the second of two restricted open steeplechases on Sunday, closing at $2.30 ahead of veteran jumper Prince Turbo ($5.30). With regular rider Hamish McNeill aboard, he walked out of the gates but assumed his preferred role out in front heading into the first lap.
Measuring his fences nicely, Saint Bernard had his rivals chasing at the 600m and they couldn’t get near him as he negotiated the last two fences and strode clear to score by 6 ¾ lengths to Prince Turbo.
Bambry was proud of her charge, particularly after revealing he had come away from the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase with a hoof injury.
“It was a really good win,” she said.
“I was really proud of him today, he hit his foot quite badly at the third-to-last fence at his last start, so he had to have 10 days basically on yard rest for that to heal. Luckily, he has retained a lot of fitness, he hasn’t done a whole lot since his last start, so it goes to show when you get these jumpers fit, how much they do retain.
“He’s a bit slow out of the gates, but then he normally just takes charge. Hamish knows him well now and lets him do his own thing, the only instructions I give is to keep Bernie happy.
“If we keep Bernie happy, it seems to work.”
Bambry is planning to return to the course for the Tararua Steeplechase (4800m) on September 6, before a possible tilt at the feature at Te Aroha.
“We take it all one by one with him, but he’ll head back to Woodville at this stage and then all going well, if he performs there, then we may look at the last day at Te Aroha,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bambry has another feature in sight for U S Navy Flag filly Startles, who finished second to Platinum La Danse in the SB Joinery (1200m) later in the meeting.
“She went super, she’s got a lot of ability with a lot still to learn,” she said. “She probably didn’t get all favours today, so she’ll go to the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) next.
“I think she’s definitely got a black-type win in her.”
The other restricted open steeplechase was taken out by last year’s Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase winner Smug (NZ) (Complacent), who like Saint Bernard, led throughout and fought off his challengers, including the hot-favourite Duke Of Plumpton and Name The Game.
Ridden by Michael Roustoby and prepared by Chris Wood, Smug bounced back from his last start at Te Aroha, where he was pulled up in a race won by Duke Of Plumpton.
