KEY POINTS:
New Zealand jumpers Blase and Real Tonic have been entered for the A$150,000 ($168,000) Crisp Steeplechase in Melbourne on Saturday.
The pair are among 15 nominations for the 3900m race at Sandown where the day's programme also features the Grand National Hurdles.
Blase, trained in Taranaki by Bob Baker, is on his second trip to Australia this year.
He raced in South Australia at the Oakbank jumps meeting in April. He finished third in the Von Doussa Steeplechase on (3250m) on April 7 and two days later won the Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m).
Blase has since had three races in New Zealand, of which the first was victory in a 2000m maiden on the flat at New Plymouth on May 12.
Next time out he fell at the last fence in the Waikato Steeplechase (4900m) at Te Rapa on May 19 when looking a winning chance, and last start he was fifth on the flat over 2000m at New Plymouth on June 14.
Real Tonic, trained by John Wheeler, was unplaced in two starts in Japan this year and last start was ninth in the A$100,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on June 16.
- NZPA
