Racing: Mrs Browne's boy hits back

Raisafuasho (Emily Farr) on his way to victory in yesterday's K.S. Browne Hurdle. Picture / Trish Dunnel

Raisafuasho looks set for an excellent winter after posting an emotional victory for owner-trainer Ann Browne at Ellerslie.

The nine-year-old made an immediate impact in his return over the smaller fences yesterday with a runaway victory in the K.S. Browne Hurdle, a prestige event named after the Cambridge horsewoman's late husband Ken.

Raisafuasho hadn't been over fences on race day since he finished runner-up in last season's Great Northern Hurdles, but he was still able to make short work of his rivals.

"Mrs Browne thought he may have been a run short, but she told me to ride him like he wasn't and to get rolling 800m out," rider Emily Farr said.

Raisafuasho had been a conspicuous last until Farr made her move and they quickly reeled in their opposition to be in front two flights from home.

"You've got to leave him alone and if you start niggling at him too soon he won't go," Farr said. "He can go from zero to a hundred very quickly though."

Raisafuasho didn't measure the final jump particularly well, but it made no difference and he cantered home by seven lengths from Ready Eddie with Yardstick a battling third.

The Great Northern Hurdles will again be the winner's winter target and Browne is mindful about getting him there at a reasonable spot in the handicap.

"I'll have to be careful what I put him in, he's not very big but he handles heavy ground well," she said. Meanwhile, One of New Zealand jumping's most successful combinations were in their element yesterday.

Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors and jockey Isaac Lupton teamed up to win the maiden hurdle with Max before they completed a double with Wise Men Say,
who turned in a tenacious performance to claim the McGregor Grant Steeplechase.

The pair celebrated three Great Northern Steeplechase victories with the great jumper Hypnotize and while Wise Men Say isn't in his league, he looks an ideal prospect for September's 6400m marathon.

The Yamanin Vital gelding lost touch with the leaders 800m from home and was a distant fourth at the final fence, but he dug deepest for his fourth win over the big fences.

"He travelled and jumped well, but he would be the most one-paced and dour horse I've ridden in my career," Lupton said.

"Coming down the hill the last time they sprinted and he couldn't go with them. Once we hit the heavy course proper though he really wound up.

"He's got the experience now and Raymond is a terrific conditioner."

Connors, who also trained and rode Our Jonty to win the 1998 Great Northern, races Wise Men Say with his farther Mark and, like most of their jumpers, the gelding was sourced from White Robe Lodge.

He was bought for $37,500 out of the Anderton family's South Island Sale draft in 2011 on their behalf by Kevin Myers, who in a twist of fate produced Crash Bandicoot to chase home Wise Men Say.

The longshot Nells Bell gave a great sight in front and fought on bravely for third ahead of Just Got Home.

- NZ Racing Desk