Equestrian: Maher weighs up options

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An international campaign could be ahead of Crisp Steeplechase winner Bashboy who proved himself Australia's supreme jumps horse with another dominant victory at Sandown, Melbourne, on Sunday.

With his opportunities limited and with prohibitive weights now assured for Bashboy, trainer Ciaron Maher said would "have a think" about overseas alternatives after the Grand National Steeplechase in two weeks.

"I'm open to it, but we'll all talk about it after he's done his job here," Maher said.

Bashboy, the winner of the same race a year ago, met some stern opposition this year and also had to overcome a couple of faulty jumps in the second half of the race before asserting himself in the final 400m.

"He just got his revs up and took off out of my hands and made a decent mistake," said jockey Steve Pateman. "But he's a good horse, he overcame that.

Pateman gave Bashboy a confident ride, staying wide on the heavy track and staying in touch with the leader Cats Fun over the 3900m. With Pateman allowing him to go to the line under his own steam, Bashboy ($1.40 fav) scored by 3 lengths from Cats Fun ($10) with nine lengths to Kirribilli Gold ($10).

Meanwhile, in other Victorian news there was plenty of smoke but no fire, with no action to be taken against any jockey who rode in a race that led to claims of widespread corruption in Victorian racing. Victoria police investigated the race run in August 2011 at Cranbourne, handing over their findings to the state's public prosecutor who is not taking the matter any further.

The Cranbourne race, won by the horse Smoking Aces ridden by Danny Nikolic, was identified last year in a television programme as being under suspicion by police of being rigged.

Jockey Danny Nikolic, his brother John and jockey Mark Zahra were named in connection with the investigation of the race, although Zahra said he had not been questioned.

All three were told by police this week that no criminal proceedings would be pursued. Police have confirmed to TVN's Racing Network their investigation of two other races has been discontinued.

- AAP