Racing: Counter Punch delivers knockout blow at Riccarton

Photo / Thinkstock

Awapuni jumper Counter Punch carried the biggest weight of a Grand National winner for 40 years when he mastered 67kg for his second successive win in the race at Riccarton on Saturday.

Counter Punch became the first dual winner since another Mark Oulaghan-trained jumper, Deecee Seven in 1997-98.

Oulaghan said the 11-year-old would now be spelled and prepared for the Grand National meeting next year.

"He just likes Riccarton," Oulaghan said. Counter Punch has also numbered two Koral Steeplechases and a Homeby Steeple among his five wins from six starts over Riccarton country.

His overall record is 13 wins and 11 placings in 54 starts for $257,266 for owners Oulaghan, Aroha Duncan and Jim Speedy, of Feilding and Michael Ormsby, of Hastings.

Oulaghan bought Country Punch for $6000 as a 2-year-old at the 2002 South Island sale after Miniskirt won a $20,000 race at the Grand National meeting six days earlier. The son of Yamanin Vital -Tri Partite was offered by North Taieri breeders, Brian and Lorraine Anderton.

Oulaghan bought a Gallant Guru colt out of Shez The Girl (by Yamanin Vital) offered by the Andertons at the South Island sale on Friday.

A bigger weight has not been carried by a National winner since Robert Earl won with 68kg in his second win in the race in 1971. Counter Punch carried 4kg above the minimum, Robert Earl carried 11kg above the minimum.

Oulaghan has equalled the record of the late Ken Browne with his four training wins in the National.

Browne won with Regal Mink (1978), Charlestown (1981) and Crown Star (1985-86).

Isaac Lupton, who has ridden Counter Punch in both his wins, also won the National on Gauchito Bastado in 2007. The 32-year-old, who has been working on the wharf to supplement his income, will continue his association with another grand jumper, Hypnotize in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup at Ellerslie next Saturday. The combination has won the Pakuranga Cup-Great Northern Steeplechase double in 2007, 08 and 2010.

Counter Punch was well rated by Lupton to close the gap on Cape Kinaveral and Karlos, who led turning for home. His stamina saw him draw clear to win by 2 lengths from the two Waikato jumpers, with the Paul Nelson runner Ho Down fourth.

Lindisfarne was destroyed after he fell heavily and fractured his pelvis at the second of the stand double on the second round on Saturday. His rider, Paul Hamblin sustained concussion and a gash to his cheek which required stitching.

The incident caused the field to be shepherded around the last fence to avoid the fallen horse and rider.