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Exciting finish to steeplechase

Posted on May 22, 2009, 8:08am

Fans of jumping races were ecstatic when the annual Mount Gambier Racing Club’s steeplechase produced an exciting finish and without incident.

The $10,000 Plenary Group Steeplechase over a gruelling 3400m was spectacular and a better finish to a jumping race you could not wish to see and it even produced a home town victory.

MGRC committeeman and trainer John O’Connor did it again, winning the race for the second time in three years.

In 2007 Hanwood got up in the last few strides to win for O’Connor and yesterday, Reach, backed from $9 into $7 gave a repeat performance.

Reach is only a recent addition to the O’Connor stable and was purchased with the aim of winning the steeplechase.

The favourite, Flying Corkscrew — ridden by Arron Lynch — led clearly coming to the last fence, but Reach and jockey Paul Hamblin, stormed home to grab the spoils.

Third to finish was What An Honour out from the Warrnambool stables of Bill and Symon Wilde and ridden by Brad McLean.

Paul Hamblin had come a cropper in the opening hurdle on yesterday’s card, falling from Boncourt, while fellow hoop Alexandra O’Sullivan had parted ways with her mount, Cash Advance.

Neither jockey was seriously hurt.

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