The combination of trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal and jockey Aaron Kuru swept all before them at Te Rapa yesterday as they won the two premier jumping events with The Cossack and Nedwin.
The Cossack, who has turned his hand to the bigger steeplechase fences this season after carrying all before him in the hurdling caper, started a $1.20 favourite in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) and never gave his supporters concern.
Kuru had an armchair ride as he kept The Cossack handy to the pace before idling to the front with 600m to run. The Cossack cruised to the line to win untouched by eight lengths from stablemate Argyll.
“That was great and he is very good,” Nelson said. “We weren’t too sure how they were going to run the race, whether they would go hard or just switch the speed on and off, but in the end, it probably wouldn’t have mattered to him.
“Aaron was thrilled with his run and just confirmed to me how good he thinks the horse is.