Racing: Hypnotize on track to defend crown

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He walked around the Ellerslie parade ring looking more like the Hypnotize of old.

Gone was the shiny coat of June when he was well beaten in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie.

That doesn't necessarily suit Great Northern Steeplechase horses and certainly not Hypnotize.

It was replaced by the mean and hungry look.

The look that has already won him the Great Northern three times.

Hypnotize could finish only third in Saturday's Pakuranga Hunt Cup, another race he's a triple winner of, but in terms of Great Northern prospects it was more than satisfactory.

In fact it was closer to enormous.

"He's struggling with that extra weight," said rider Isaac Lupton after dismounting, but the smile was extra wide.

"That 2kg (70kg to 72kg) up from last year's Northern made a difference."

Perhaps, but Hypnotize, as he's done plenty of times at Ellerslie, came from the dead two fences out to make 10 lengths on the leaders to take him into third.

"He just can't run down that hill," said Lupton.

But when he hits the flat the second Hypnotize materialises. Stamina is what Hypnotize destroys his opposition with and the additional round of the track in the Great Northern is what allows him to utilise it.

A wetter, looser track would be a great assist for Hypnotize. Carting the big weight like he had on Saturday on sticky, holding footing is very tough.

Watch out for history being made if he gets conditions to suit on Saturday week.

Indications are that Climbing High will start in the Great Northern, even though shorter races are probably his strong point.

"He's very well," rider Shelley Houston told co-trainer Mark Weal after weighing in.

The Cambridge jockey thought she probably should have won the race.

"When he ran past Fair King in the home straight he pulled himself up and said: 'That's enough, I've won the race'.

"I said: 'No you haven't', but he can be such a boof he often doesn't listen.

"He had a fair bit left at the finish."

Then Houston came out with a surprise.

"I'd rather ride Tom's Myth", on whom she impressively won the maiden steeplechase earlier on the programme.

"But if he [Climbing High] starts, I'll have to stick with the ship."