ON a wintry day that fully tested all participants, it was the Steven Pateman-trained Historic that handled the heavy track best to take out the iconic $50,000 Eulong Steeplechase feature at Hamilton on Tuesday.
Despite the arctic temperature and the track being quickly downgraded to a Heavy 10, the jumps racing once again served up some memorable action.
The heavens opened before the feature race with horses, riders and barrier attendants trying to take cover from the hail and rain that swept across the track.
The six-horse field was eventually on its way, they settled quickly with little or no change for a lap and a half.
But as the pressure was applied up front it was evident as they descended down the hill at the 800m mark that only two horses could win the race – Historic and eventual runner-up, Coleridge.
In an epic dual the two horses stoushed all the way to the post.
Ronan Short was able to lift Historic to a narrow win over Coleridge and his rider Arron Lynch.
Only a nose separated the horses at the winning post.
The win franked his good form, following a strong second at Casterton behind Elvison in the Two Rivers Steeplechase.
The win completed a great day for Short, who finished with a riding double after also winning on the Symon Wilde-trained Tolemac in the Hammonds Maiden Hurdle over 3200m.
The other divisions of the Maiden Hurdle went to Fort Charles ridden by Darryl Horner and Dubawi Prince and Chris McCarthy.
Both horses relished the heavy conditions to edge out race favourites and Paul Preusker-trained stablemates, Hakuna Matata and Killourney respectively.
The most popular win for the meeting was that of grand old jumper Big Blue in the Bet365 Open Hurdle.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 10-year-old has been a brilliant jumper on his day, but his recent run at Warrnambool suggested he might have been struggling to find form.
Confidence rose when the track conditions deteriorated and a terrific ride by Willie McCarthy proved there was still plenty left in his old legs.
Taking up the lead, he had the field struggling along way from home, eventually ploughing his way to a seven-length victory.
The most impressive win by margin was that of Yulong Place in the Ace Radio 0-114 Steeplechase for Pakenham trainer, Lyn Shand.
With Braidon Small in the saddle, the novice steeplechaser recorded his first career win at start 26 by a widening 25 lengths.
He relished the wet ground and the big fences and with winter here, he looks a horse to follow in similar conditions.
The flat races provided more success for the inform stable of Patrick Payne.
Fresh from six winners on Sunday, Payne saddled up a double when combining with apprentice jockey, Mikaela Lawrence, to win with Bigolino and Chatelaine.
Maddie Raymond and John Allen combined for an easy win with Home Rule in the Wheelie Waste BM64 Handicap, while Wilde also secured a flat winner to take home a double.
In a driving finish Bazini and Harry Coffey sent home favourite punters on a good note.
Results
Race 1 Bet365 Maiden Hurdle 3200m - 1st FORT CHARLES (Darryl Horner Jnr/Eric Musgrove) $7.50; 2nd HAKUNA MATATA (Aaron Kuru/Paul Preusker) $3.60f; 3rd SKY HERO (Arron Lynch/Richie Cully) $4.
Race 2 Hammonds Maiden Hurdle 3200m - 1st TOLEMAC (Ronan Short/Symon Wilde) $1.85f; 2nd MIGHTY OASIS (William McCarthy/Andrew Bobbin) $5; 3rd GRAVISTAS (Richard O'Donoghue/Mick Nolan) $18.
Race 3 Pearson’s Nursery Maiden Hurdle 3200m - 1st DUBAWI PRINCE (Chris McCarthy/Tony Rosolini) $5.50; 2nd KILLOURNEY (Lee Horner/Paul Preusker) $2.45f; 3rd CAPELLANI (Arron Lynch/Richie Cully) $7.
Race 4 Bet365 Hurdle 3200m - 1st BIG BLUE (William McCarthy/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) $4.80; 2nd EL DIEZ (Darryl Horner Jnr/Eric Musgrove) $4f; 3rd ONSET (Richard O’Donoghue/Eric Musgrove) $9.
Race 5 Ace Radio 0-114 Steeplechase 3400m - 1st YULONG PLACE (Braidon Small/Lyn Shand) $5.50; 2nd LAYLITE (Nathan Newton/Steven Pateman) $26; 3RD LOOKING AROUND (Jayden Hanley/Eric Musgrove) $31.
Race 6 Eulong Steeplechase 3400m - 1st HISTORIC (Ronan Short/Steven Pateman) $4.60; 2nd COLERIDGE (Arron Lynch/Eric Musgrove) $4.20; 3rd FLYING PIERRO (Lee Horner/Tony Rosolini) $5.50.
Race 7 Warrnambool Locksmiths BM64 Handicap 1400m - 1st BIGOLINO (Mikaela Lawrence/Patrick Payne) $3.60f; 2nd BOLD BOURBON (Jarrod Fry/Lindsey Smith) $11; 3rd NURIYA (Liam Riordan/Jane Baker) $8.50.
Race 8 South West Equine BM64 Handicap 1600m - 1st CHATELAINE (Mikaela Lawrence/Patrick Payne) $7; 2nd FAST ‘N’ FORWARD (Kate Walters/Wayne Walters) $6.50ef; 3rd LAUGHING GRIZZLEY (Liam Riordan/Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr) $26.
Race 9 Wheelie Waste BM64 Handicap 1200m - 1st HOME RULE (John Allen/Maddie Raymond); 2nd LILY ALLEZ (Mikaela Lawrence/Patrick Payne) $13; 3rd MOON OVER ALICE (Jarrod Fry/Daniel Bowman) $12.
Race 10 Eric Musgrove Racing BM58 Handicap 2200m - 1st BAZINI (Harry Coffey/Symon Wilde) $2.15f; 2nd PURE DEAL (Arron Lynch/Bevan Laming) $3.90; 3rd MONT AGEL (Harry Grace/Pat Ryan Jnr) $20.
