Kevin Myers' raid on the jumping features at Riverton yesterday almost went perfectly.
The canny Wanganui horseman sent Noess and Krase south for the Great Western Steeplechase and Great Western Hurdles respectively, and Noess duly delivered in the 4000m battle over the larger fences, wearing down Lagerfeld in the straight to win by almost four lengths.
Noess, a son of Generous, was on a short back-up after running third at Wanganui on Tuesday in a 4100m restricted open steeple, but showed no effects of the tight turnaround and the long journey from the North Island.
Jockey Joanne Rathbone said the 8-year-old adapted to the different types of fences well, considering it was only his second career start taking on the big fences and his first start involving natural fences.
"He was just jumping a bit big earlier on - it was his first time over the live jumps - but he jumped well and we were travelling well at the end there," Rathbone told Trackside TV.
