Never underestimate its worth. Mark Todd did pretty well. Isaac Lupton, closely related to farmer Snow Lupton, who won a decent race called the Melbourne Cup with Kiwi, milks cows.
Interestingly, with typical Japanese thoroughness, youngsters who are wishing to become jockeys in Japan initially go to an academy where they learn to associate with animals, horses, dogs and cats, because for those living in major cities, there would be almost zero chance of that happening previously. Which makes Yutaka Taki a freak.
The astute Hastings-based Paul Nelson runs dry stock and sheep, and on a wins to starters basis, outstrips most in the jumps business in this country. Nelson's day on Saturday wildly fluctuated but that's what the jumps people call normal.
He won the $50,000 Porritt Sand Waikato Hurdles with The Shackler, then had to watch Perry Mason crash at the last fence when he had the maiden steeplechase safely won.
Perry Mason put in what proved a very unfortunate extra stride right underneath the obstacle and left himself no room to clear the fence. The dry-humoured Nelson yesterday said he had a "talk" with his talented stable rider Aaron Kuru.
"Fair enough, the horse had the others well beaten and you might say you can justify Aaron allowing him to glide into the last comfortably, but that can be fatal. They relax and lose concentration," said Nelson.
Most of the old-time jumps jockeys traditionally warned against just that.
"The thing is Perry Mason had had only one previous steeplechase and he fell in that, too, so he needed help at every fence. Aaron helped him around, then just eased a little into the last, and you saw what can happen when you do that."
Nelson said Perry Mason took no harm from the heavy fall and neither did The Shackler from his major win. He described the previously flighty 11-year-old as quiet these days, except when he's not.
The Shackler looks a relaxed and happy horse and clearly appreciates being transferred to farm training from a professional stable.
"We haven't fully decided but there is a chance he will be back for the Queen's Birthday weekend."
Max's performance was the highlight. To some, he looked to be impossibly off the pace down the back straight the final time but Isaac Lupton knew what he had under him. He knew Max's close-to-the-ground stayer's stride would eat up the leeway in the closing stages.
Victory was still not a given when Lupton and Max cleared the last in fourth place, but as hard as Justa Charlie, Thenamesbond and Shamal fought under pressure, they were totally eclipsed by the winner's stamina.
The Harvey Wilson-trained Venerate and Will Gordon was the fortuitous recipient of the winning stake when Perry Mason crashed. Gordon had earlier ridden a superb race to win the maiden hurdles on Napolean.
