By MIKE DILLON
Sir Avion will attempt what they say is impossible these days - to win this weekend's TV Guide Hurdles/Mercedes Great Northern Steeplechase double.
Only nine horses have tried the double since 1982 - none successfully.
The last to win New Zealand's most famous jumping races was the Colin Jillings-trained Brockton in 1971.
The highly talented Sir Avion will start favourite in the TV Guides Hurdles, but his task 48 hours later will be even tougher - to try to win the Mercedes Great Northern.
Owner and trainer Kevin O'Connor said he rated Sir Avion a horse capable of taking on the double when he competed in the Millennium Steeplechase at Ellerslie on January 1.
"I've always been planning it since then, I think he's the right type of horse for it," said O'Connor yesterday.
"He's a tough horse and he's at an age when he can handle it."
If Sir Avion pulls off a 30-year-old record, it will be a marvellous training performance by O'Connor.
Sir Avion injured a tendon two years ago that required a spell of 12 months. Because he was brought back into work as late as June last year, he could not be given a proper winter jumping campaign, which meant O'Connor had the problem of getting the horse ready for racing's toughest double with different preparation.
The unluckiest since Brockton was Central Districts jumper Vincere, who won the Hurdles in 1988 and finished second in the Steeplechase to Headawin.
A year later Vincere did not start in the Hurdles, and in the Steeples suffered the misfortune of rider Graeme Lord's losing his stirrup irons early. Lord and Vincere stayed with the leaders for a good part of the race but the task became impossible, and they did not finish.
One of the braver efforts came from the last horse to attempt the double - the Ken and Ann Browne-trained Noble Glory in 1997.
He finished second to Clem in the Hurdles then lost Ken Browne in spectacular fashion when leading the field with 2000m to run. Browne held on to the reins and made a valiant effort to regain control, but lost the reins in the slippery conditions.
* Horses who have tackled the big Ellerslie double since 1982:
: Mr Hickey; 1st Hurdles, 0 in Steeples
1987: Deductable; 0 Hurdles, 1st Steeples
1988: Vincere; 1st Hurdles, 2nd Steeples
1990: Count Fox; 0 Hurdles, 0 Steeples
1991: Noble Heritage; 2nd Hurdles, 0 Steeples
1995: King's Table; 0 Hurdles, 0 Steeples
1997: Noble Glory; 2nd Hurdles, l/rider Steeples
Racing: Sir Avion eyes Ellerslie double
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