KEY POINTS:
Isaac Lupton was five years old the day his great uncle Snow Lupton wove himself into the fabric of racing by winning the Melbourne Cup with Kiwi.
He recalls not knowing what was really happening when his parents picked him up school in Waverley to celebrate.
A few years later he couldn't understand why anyone could be interested in horse racing.
"Dad played around with a few horses, but he hadn't won a race in a few years and I wondered why anyone would bother," said Isaac Lupton.
The 28-year-old dairy farmer fully understood why people bother when he grabbed one of the thrills of his life in flashing past the Riccarton winning post on Gauchito Bastado in Saturday's $60,000 PGG Wrightson Grand National Steeplechase.
At that moment he knew exactly why his parents June and Craig had bothered.
They were the reason he was there on Saturday.
"The Grand National is the race I've always wanted to win because my parents finished second in it twice with Hadfield and I wanted to win it for them," said Lupton.
"I used to help by riding Hadfieldat home and that was what got me interested."
Perhaps typical of some country boys Lupton is quiet by nature.
The way he has crept into prominence in the jumps riding ranks has had the same feel to it.
It was as late as 2001 when he started riding regularly and he is now considered one of the best.
But as in all fields of racing, Lupton hit a flat spot a few months ago.
"It was a chore packing my bag to go to the races."
That was even after winning the rich Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank on New Zealand jumper Blase at Easter.
Lupton flipped at the last fence as Blase was about to win the Waikato Steeplechase in May and he hit the deck again a few fences from home in the Wellington Hurdles last month.
But you never know how far away you are from your next big win in horse racing and little more than one hour after the disastrous Wellington Hurdles, Lupton won the Wellington Steeplechase on Black Eagle.
It may not be a record but had Blase not made his surprising mistake atTe Rapa, Lupton would have picked up the Waikato, Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases in the onewinter.
What he has already achieved this winter is notable and it will creepseveral more notches up the ladder if he can add the Great Northern Steeplechase next month.
"I haven't got a firm ride for the Northern at the moment.
"Kevin Myers hasn't said what he's doing with Gauchito Bastado.
"I might ring Mrs [Ann] Browne and see if one of theirs is available for Ellerslie - Shelley Houston might have to make a decision between Primo Canera and Waitete Boy."
Primo Canera showed he was on track when he finished fifth on the flat over 2100m at Pukekohe on Saturday - a terrific effort when you consider he went into the race off two steeplechase starts.
The jumpers stole the spotlight at Pukekohe - Slumber showed she could be a real chance in the Great Northern Hurdles with a ridiculously easy win in the hurdle race, Diamondsareforever, the Hawkes Bay Hurdles winner, out-toughed the open flat horses with Mark Sweeney aboard and Just The Man looked right back to his best in winning the steeplechase with ease.
Just The Man had been racing below his best since winning the Great Northern Steeplechase with trainer Davina Waddell having to overcome a raft of problems, but he looked the horse of old on Saturday.
Both Primo Canera and Browne's other exciting jumper Fair King will tackle the $40,000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday week.
Neither will be seen at the organised jumping trials at Ellerslie today. "I'll be taking a couple of my maiden jumpers up there," said Browne.
