Racing: Kiwis ready for Oakbank

Eric The Viking is one of five New Zealand jumpers in the feature race, Von Doussa Steeplechase, at Oakbank today. Photo / Race Images

Kiwi camaraderie is in full swing in preparation for this weekend's Oakbank jumping festival.

The South Australia Easter Carnival will feature five New Zealand-trained runners in the A$100,000 Von Doussa Steeplechase today, with three of them from John Wheeler's Taranaki stable.

Wheeler has been a force at Oakbank for more than 20 years and will be represented by Tobouggie Nights, Riviera Star and Seeking The Silver.

Tobouggie Nights is an old and successful hand at the Adelaide meeting and in 2012 he completed the Von Doussa-Great Eastern Steeples double and finished runner-up in the latter 'chase the following year.

The Wheeler team was accompanied on the flight to Australia last Monday by Wayne Hillis' Supercharged and the Aaron Bidlake-trained Eric The Viking.

"We're all mucking in together and the horses have settled in well here," Bidlake said. "We got a fair bit of rain on Wednesday night and the track is absolutely beautiful; it's a gorgeous course."

Bidlake is at the opposite end of the experience scale to Wheeler with the Tauherenikau horseman on his first trip to Oakbank.

"It's fantastic and a great place, hopefully we can get something back to pay for the expenses," he said.

His Grand National Steeplechase winner Eric The Viking has had three preparatory runs to fit him for the Von Doussa test over 3250m.

"He's done a fair bit of work and he's pretty forward so we'll see what happens," Bidlake said.

"It was his first time on a plane, but he's done really well and he hasn't turned a hair. He's been to Christchurch four times so he is used to travelling."

Eric The Viking's regular rider Shaun Phelan will again be in the saddle and, all going well, they will be back up in Monday's A$160,000 Great Eastern Steeples.

"That's the plan and then we'll go on to Warnambool," Bidlake said. "We'll come home after that and I can freshen him up for Riccarton again."

In other Australian news, Coolmore has bought a controlling interest in Golden Slipper winner Vancouver in a deal reported to value the colt at A$40 million.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Vancouver is unbeaten in four starts and his previous owners will continue to race him in conjunction with Coolmore Stud and its partners, which include the China Horse Club, Ramsey Pastoral and Peters Investments.

"There was obviously a massive amount of interest in the horse so we are delighted to have secured him," Coolmore's Tom Magnier said.

"He's a brilliant colt and we and our partners couldn't be more excited about his future.

"Vancouver, along with another of our recent investments, Pride Of Dubai, serve to illustrate the long-term commitment of Coolmore to the Australian breeding industry."

Pride Of Dubai won the Blue Diamond Stakes and is favourite to add another Group One race to his record in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick today.

Vancouver will spell until the spring with the Cox Plate on his agenda.

— NZ Racing Desk, AAP