WELLINGTON - Victory in one of New Zealand's feature jumping races ended with a cloud hanging over it when Arch Rival pulled up sore after winning the $40,000 Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday.
Arch Rival's jockey Megan Prendergast dismounted the horse on pulling up after the race and led him back to the birdcage.
Prendergast's initial thoughts were that Arch Rival suffered an injury at the last fence and that it might not be serious.
"He flattened the last. I'm hoping that's all it is," Prendergast said as she walked back with the horse.
However Southland trainer Gary Gibson of Gore feared the worst because of the horse's previous history.
"He has broken down before," Gibson said later.
"He's actually had both tendons operated on, so it really wasn't un expected."
Gibson, 39, who experiened the biggest win of his training career, was satisfied he had been able to achieve a major victory with the horse considering his past injuries.
"The owners have spent a lot of money on some big operations to get him this far," he said.
"If we had to retire him after this, it wouldn't be the end of the world. He'd look all right in the show ring."
Arch Rival's win at Riccarton Park led home a rout for South Island-trained horses over their more fancied northern rivals when they filled the first five placings.
Arch Rival, at odds of nearly 15-1, won by 31/2 lengths from rank outsider Cuchulainn.
North Island visitors were the first two favourites but the favourite Ballina Bold was last of the seven finishers.
Ballina Bold made the pace for much of the 4200m distance but drifted right out after being headed at the top of the straight.
Second favourite Tommy Lad was pulled up. He was midfield early but with as much as 1400m to run had dropped well back.
Best of the northerners was the Ken and Ann Browne-trained Civil who finished sixth, more than 11 lengths from the winner.
Arch Rival's win added to some recent highlights for Prendergast.
The Otago 24-year-old rode Another Gun to win one of the winter's feature flat races, the $25,000 Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham last month. She also rode another winner on the same day at her only two rides at Trentham.
Prendergast is probably on the move after this winter. One trip she had planned was to Singapore to take up a three-month trackwork riding contract where her brother is foreman for former New Zealand trainer Paddy Busuttin.
Yesterday's win was the biggest of her career and she said Arch Rival raced kindly throughout.
"He was always travelling nicely and I knew if I held him up, he would have the last say," she said.
Cuchulainn had reached the lead early in the home straight but Arch Rival levelled up at the last fence.
After the fence Prendergast thought for a moment that Cuchulainn, ridden by Peter Kennedy, might have her measure.
"It was a matter of who caught the last better. Peter's horse jumped ahead but my fellow just fought back really strongly."
Two horses fell and another was brought down by a fallen runner.
Channel Road fell in the early stages while third favourite Melomai fell with 600m to run when looking a distinct danger.
Following behind Melomai was the topweight Treblig who could not avoid the fallen horse and was brought down when also in a challenging position and appearing to be travelling well. - NZPA
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