KEY POINTS:
Isaac Lupton stalked his rival jockeys like a predator eyeing his next meal during the final lap of the $103,000 Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie yesterday.
The "kill" for the undisputed king of New Zealand jumps racing was a ruthless 7 1/4 length thumping aboard the favourite, Hypnotize, in the Sharp-sponsored event.
Lupton sat at the back of the field for most of the 6400m feature and gradually worked into a challenging position as the field climbed the Ellerslie hill for the final time.
He banked on the superior flat racing speed of Hypnotize, as the favourite sprinted powerfully over the closing two fences to clear out for an easy win from a gallant Stitched. A further neck away third was The Storytella.
Lupton has dominated winter steeplechasing having won the Wellington Steeplechase (Black Eagle) and Grand National (Gauchito Bastado).
Just for good measure he also won the Great Eastern Steeplechase in South Australia with Blase.
Paul Nelson never lost faith in the jumping ability of Just Not Cricket and that loyalty was rewarded in dramatic circumstances at Ellerslie yesterday.
The Hastings trainer arrived on track with no media pressure attached to the stable which had produced Just Not Cricket to win last year's Great Northern Hurdles.
The 10-year-old was written off by most form analysts heading into yesterday's event for good reason - he failed to finish three of four races heading into the $103,000 feature.
However, racing is all about taking advantage of the opportunities presented and that is exactly what happened with two fences remaining in the feature hurdle.
Leader Spirit Of Alaton fell and then the favourite, Counter Punch, ploughed through the last fence presenting Just Not Cricket with an ideal opportunity to return to winning form.
He responded to the aggressive urging from jockey Jonathan Riddell to post a three-quarter length victory over Pasco, with the same margin to the third-placed Counter Punch.
However, the winner returned to the parade ring favouring his near-side front leg, souring what had being a great day for Nelson.
"He's previously injured the near-side tendon and it doesn't look like that injury has flared up again, but there is something wrong with him," said Nelson.
"It was great to get the win here today but it might have come at some cost. Jonathan [Riddell] rode him very well, particularly aggressively into the fences and that helped."
Unbeaten filly Special Mission dominated her age-group rivals when effortlessly winning the $60,000 (listed) Carters-Gibs Stakes at Wanganui.
The Mark Walker-trained 3-year-old settled back off the speed in the early part of the 1200m event before sweeping forward three and four wide on the hometurn to challenge.
When jockey Michael Walker asked the favourite to sprint the response was mouth-watering as the minute filly quickly lengthened stride to reel in the leaders.
Special Mission cleared out from the opposition to win by two lengths over a gallant Dashing Donna with the same margin back to the third-placed Keepa Cruisin.
Fritzy Boy debuted on a racetrack barely a week ago but that did not stop him from overpowering a useful field of 3-year-olds to win the $60,000 (listed) Wanganui Guineas.
The son of Brilliance languished at the back of the field before unleashing a blistering home-stretch sprint down the outer to win by a length over Plan Ex, with the same margin back to Go Danny (third).
It was an impressive performance by the Alby MacGregor-trained gelding but his lack of racing experience could have proved expensive. In the home stretch, Fritzy Boy ran all over the track giving jockey Paul Taylor a difficult ride.
