KEY POINTS:
Trainer Heather Frew and jockey Tommy Logan shared career highlights at Sandown in Melbourne yesterday when they combined to win the Grand National Steeplechase with tough fencer Clearview Bay.
Over a gruelling 4530m on a very heavy track, Clearview Bay put in a magnificent leap over the last of the 17 fences in the $250,000 feature and went on to score by 2 1/4 lengths from Swift Rule.
Grand National Hurdle runner-up Ginolad was a short half-head away third with Conzeal another 15 lengths back in fourth.
Frew was represented at Sandown by her husband Kevin.
"He's just a tough horse," Frew said of the Ignatius gelding.
The Frews, who hail from New Zealand, once pre-trained horses for Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter before moving to South Australia, where they set up at Mt Gambier for several years before moving to their current base at Strathalbyn.
After winning a 600m trial by six lengths, Clearview Bay was expected to win a 900m 2-year-old event at the Mt Gambier Cup carnival but weakened to finish a disappointing fifth.
However, the Frews have turned him around and the 7-year-old is now one of Australia's best chasers, this season winning the Von Doussa Steeple and finishing second in the Great Eastern Steeple, both at Easter.
He then won the Brierly Steeple under 69kg before losing his rider Craig Durden in the Grand Annual Steeple in May.
Logan, having his third ride in the race, picked up the mount on Clearview Bay when Durden broke a hand in a race fall.
"He jumped unreal, he didn't make a mistake today," Logan said. "He was strong at the top of the hill, although I didn't think he'd be able to catch Swift Rule or Ginolad."
Clearview Bay has now raced 18 times over the jumps for seven wins and four seconds.
- AAP
