KEY POINTS:
What top jumper Stitched lacks in speed he makes up for in his nature, says part-owner "Steak" Goodin.
Stitched completed a successful comeback to racing when winning the $35,000 Koral Steeplechase at Riccarton after last year breaking down with tendon injuries.
The injuries came soon after Stitched won
the Wellington Steeplechase.
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock was not on hand for Saturday's win but one of the reasons he has persevered with the horse was because of his great nature, said Goodin.
"Allan said he is the slowest horse he has ever trained. But he's a good horse to train - he's a gentleman."
Goodin is part of the Racehorse Breeders Syndicate 15 which races Stitched. Another member is Kevin Landrigan who, with Goodin, was part of the first Racehorses Breeders' syndicate formed 25 years ago.
There have since been numerous syndicates carrying the name, with only the number at the end changing to signify a different makeup.
Goodin, 59, a farmer from Okato, near New Plymouth, said he had carried the nickname of Steak since he was a child and no one knew him by his real first name of John.
"If I ever appeared before the judge he might call me John," Goodin quipped.
"But I'm Steak on my medical records - I've had four hip replacements."
Goodin said considering Stitched's tendon injuries last year syndicate members were not confident of a winning run on Saturday. They were just hopeful of a solid effort to warrant running him in next Saturday's $60,000 Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton.
"All we wanted was for him to be able to stay with the field and hope he was finishing on strongly," he said.
The Grosvenor 8-year-old gelding got back early in the 4150m contest but rider Kenny Watson improved him to be in the leading bunch with about 1000m to run.
Stitched came through on the inner at the top of the straight to make a line of three with Gauchito Bastado and Tahiti Gold in the lead.
But in the concluding stages Stitched drew ahead to score by two lengths. Gauchito Bastado held second with 1 1/4 lengths to Tahiti Gold third.
Half a neck away fourth was Havana City, who led early but dropped back in the middle stages before rallying again in the straight.
A disappointment was second favourite Just A Swagger who finished seventh of the eight runners after chasing the leader for much of the race.
- NZPA