KEY POINTS:
Steeplechasing is about a lot of different things.
Like attrition.
We've not seen for years an attrition rate like the one Black Eagle left in his wake winning Saturday's $60,000 Preston Wellington Steeples.
It's also about tears and bitter disappointment.
Missy Browne and the Meikle family had a long, sombre drive home to the Waikato after Jump To It was run off by Waitete Boy in the early stages of the race.
It's about quick thinking.
Trainer Paul Nelson directed rider Phillip Turner after crashing on No Yarn to retrace his steps and jump the remaining fences to pick up the $1375 cheque for fifth that was left begging when only four finished the race.
It's about courage.
The sheer heart and guts displayed by Black Eagle, and by Waitete Boy to chase him for almost the entire 5500m, was breathtaking.
And it's about dreams.
Like thoughts for the world's richest jumping race, the Nakayama Grand Jump.
In winning the Waikato and now Wellington Steeplechases, Black Eagle may have already done enough to warrant an invitation to Japan's big race in March.
If not, he can make sure of it by winning the Grand National Steeplechase in early August.
"What a treble that would be," said an almost breathless trainer Kevin Hughes after the win.
Of course he's right about the treble, but the several million dollars of the Nakayama has slightly more depth than a three-race photo plaque on the wall.
Black Eagle has what it takes to be a Nakayama horse, something many of our traditional dour steeplechasers lack.
He's got ample speed, remarkable athleticism, he jumps brilliantly and showed on Saturday that Hughes was not boasting when he continually maintained the horse would never be found wanting in stamina despite what looks to be a lighter than usual physical frame for a jumper.
You couldn't draw up a better description of a Nakayama prospect.
Black Eagle's jumping is just a treat to watch.
It became a little less spectacular as he tired in the second half of the race, but he was still very clever when he got in too close to a jump.
The display may have even been more attractive had he not been pressured just about all the way by Waitete Boy.
Waitete Boy's rider Shelley Houston seemed determined to keep the pressure on Black Eagle, which made the winner's performance even better.
But the game was up two fences from home - when Waitete Boy landed after jumping the fence by the 700m you could almost see him put up the white flag.
He was exhausted, but kept going bravely.
Apart from the figure eight configuration of much of the Wellington Steeplechase, the Grand National is a very similar race to Saturday's.
It requires stamina and a good jumper that respects the fences.
The issue now will be weight - Black Eagle carried 66kg equal topweight on Saturday and will face a tough assignment at Riccarton, but he has what it takes and he will be on his home turf.
Rider Isaac Lupton was included in the drama of Saturday's feature - he was delighted to finally put his recent bad luck behind him.
Lupton was having his first ride on Black Eagle, not an easy assignment on such a brilliant leaper that essentially needs to be allowed to run his own race.
Lupton may not have previously sat on Black Eagle, but he knows what the horse looks like.
He was alongside and about to run past him on Blase approaching the last fence of the Waikato Steeplechase when Blase had a brain snap and decided to crash through the outside wing of the obstacle, throwing Lupton heavily.
Less than two hours before Saturday's big race Lupton was lucky to escape injury when his mount Just Not Cricket crashed heavily at the 900m in the Wellington Hurdles.
* Former Matamata apprentice Chad Ormsby rode his first winners over jumps when he landed Sharp Prick home in the hurdles at Waimate yesterday and two hours later took the steeplechase on Rainline.
Rainline's owner Peter Lyon sponsored the race.
