Racing: Win leaves trainer speechless

Rangatira in the hands of jockey Isaac Lupton yesterday. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It was hardly surprising that Steve Gulliver was left speechless after Rangatira had won the Rodd & Gunn Great Northern Steeplechase in the most dramatic of circumstances.

In a result that all but matched the unique 2001 dead-heat of Sir Avion and Smart Hunter, just a bare nose separated Gulliver's Rangatira from the former Great Northern Hurdles winner Kidunot at Ellerslie on Saturday.

"I just don't know what to say," was the Stratford trainer's reaction. "We didn't plan to do that, but he's got such a high cruising speed and he never gives up."

Gulliver was referring to Rangatira's tearaway front-running display that at one time had him a conservative 100 metres in front of the second horse.

The chasers had closed in with one fence to clear and Kidunot and Ross Doherty got to the lead in the gruelling run to the judge. However, Rangatira was able to raise a final effort that saw him get the bob in on the post.

"He relaxed and was jumping well and I didn't know how far in front I was," stand-in rider Isaac Lupton said. "When Kidunot headed me I thought we were going to run third, but he fought and all credit to the horse and to Steve."

Meanwhile, Kayla Veenendaal guided the veteran fencer Harvest The Gold to victory in the Meadow Fresh Great Northern Hurdles.

The 27-year-old had won last months' Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton aboard Mahanadi and her standing among the country's top jumps rider was further emphasised at Ellerslie with another cool display.

Veenendaal has come a long way in a short time and her fast track to riding success began when she linked up with Jo Rathbone at Bulls a little over a year ago to become part of the Kevin Myers operation.

She had previously worked for Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin and Bruce and Stephen Marsh when they had stables in Woodville and Palmerston North.

Veenendaal was having her second ride on the 11-year-old Harvest The Gold. The pair settled back in the pack and started to pick up ground 800 metres from home.

They were fourth at the final fence and Veenendaal drove the Mark Oulaghan-trained Harvest The Gold to a neck defeat of Kings Deep with Arose a brave third.

"Mark's horses are always super fit and he's timed it all perfectly," Veenendaal said. Sea King was fourth.

- NZ Racing Desk.