Jenny
Barnes

Oakbank
2002

26/03/02 Heroes and Warriors - Von Doussa Steeplechase

After running third at Wyong in late February 1995 he headed back to the city racetracks but his best run was fourth behind Cheunganoff in a Randwick Welter. Returning to Wyong Moon Chase returned to his best on a heavy track winning an Open Handicap over 1600m by three lengths from Tankarooka with Beau Mead third. Another close third before a let up and a short unsuccessful campaign in winter. Spelled until the following March Moon Chase recorded his next victory at his fourth run back over 1350m at Wyong in heavy conditions. Bold Chief defeated him by a length a week later over 1600m at Gosford with Kei Konei third. Four more unplaced runs followed before Moon Chase went for a long spell of 36 weeks. During this time he changed trainers and joined the stable of Jim Houlahan at Rosebud with a jumping career planned for his future.

First up at Cranbourne Moon Chase was fifth to Oui before being defeated by 2 ¾ lengths by Rigmarole with 8 lengths back to An Illusion third at Seymour in a Maiden Hurdle. Despite jumping awkwardly at his third jumps run Moon Chase won narrowly from Redanza with 25 lengths back to Bergman Road third. Redanza reversed the decision at their next meeting relegating Moon Chase to second with Noble Task third. Ten days later Moon Chase headed to Flemington where he revelled in the wet conditions to win a 2800m Hurdle by four lengths from Maybe Rough with Granite Point third and Redanza fourth. Moon Chase again defeated Maybe Rough in a Hurdle at Moonee Valley over 3200m by 3 ½ lengths with Veritable Lad third. Moon Chase then spelled until the following April to campaign at the highest level of jumps racing. After a first up sixth at Warrnambool he was then fourth to Maybe Rough at Moonee Valley. A fortnight later Moon Chase won the Gippsland Hurdle by six lengths from Mountain Affair with Wild Trista third and future South Australian Grand National winner Kingston Dream fourth. A third behind Kingston Dream and Jonesy's Flyer in the Lachal Hurdle followed but now Moon Chase was conceding weight to other runners unlike his first jumping season. In the Australian Hurdle Moon Chase ploughed through the wet conditions to win by 4 ½ lengths from Sir Poet with a further six lengths to Maybe Rough third. Given a start on the flat he was unplaced before backing up seven days later to win the Grand National Hurdle by over a length from Jonesy's Flyer with Down to Zero third and Wild Trista fourth. Moon Chase then headed to the Hiskens Steeplechase for his first start over the big fences. Established jumpers Maybe Rough and Gegabar fought the race out with Moon Chase third ahead of Burroywe Lord. It was then to the spelling paddocks for Moon Chase now arguably Australia's best hurdler.

Second up the following February Moon Chase won on the flat over 1750m at Pakenham before returning to the jumps and winning a hurdle at Flemington over 2800m. Carrying 71kg Moon Chase won in course record time by 2 ¾ lengths with Bullwinkle second a nose ahead of Vowtinsk with Gilligan fourth. Unplaced on the flat after his saddle slipped Moon Chase headed to Oakbank for the first time in April 1999. In the Von Doussa Steeplechase Moon Chase put in an impressive display of jumping to win easily by 16 lengths from Century's Fox with Gilligan third. Heading back to Victoria Moon Chase carried 73kg to victory in a hurdle at Caulfield defeating the talented but ill fated Rigmarole (63.5kg) by 1 ½ lengths with Noble Benbara a further 4 lengths away third. A trip to Warrnambool followed where Moon Chase carried 69.5kg to victory in the Galleywood Hurdle from Magic View by four lengths with a further four lengths to third placed Ryazan. Moon Chase then won a steeplechase at Moonee Valley by 2 ½ lengths from Gentleman Jack with a further 10 lengths to Sunday News third. Injury caused Moon Chase to miss the rest of the winter's racing and he was away from the racetrack for eight months. After three unplaced efforts on the flat Moon Chase ran third beaten less than a length in an Open Handicap at Sandown in April 2000. Moon Chase then headed to Oakbank for his first up run over jumps in defence of his Von Doussa Steeplechase title. Carrying 67kg Moon Chase pulled hard and was in the leading division throughout but the tough run told in the final run to the line as Gilligan won by 2 ¼ lengths from Worthy Knight who nosed Moon Chase out of second place as St Steven finished fourth.

Soon after the Von Doussa Steeplechase the retirement of Moon Chase was announced. With the huge weights he had to carry against talented opposition and the chance of his legs suffering under the strain it was in the best interests of the horse that Moon Chase was retired. Moon Chase had four starts in steeplechases for 2 wins and two thirds while over the hurdles he had 15 starts for 9 wins, two seconds and one third was never further back than sixth and never fell or lost his rider during his entire jumping career. His full record reads as 85 starts for 21 wins, 4 seconds and 11 thirds for $471,758 and he won at distances from 1280m to 4000m.

Last year the Von Doussa was taken out by flashy chestnut Jarl in a strong staying performance for jockey Adrian Garraway. Retired after racing on the flat Jarl was to be a show horse at equestrian events but Leanne Proctor decided to try training him as a racehorse in Victoria. After showing some promise around the country circuit but being unable to break through Jarl was tried over hurdles. He soon won two in succession. The following campaign he won two more hurdles and was fifth behind Marlborough in the Grand National Hurdle. Jarl won the Australian Hurdle in 2000 before running sixth in the Grand National Hurdle then winning at his Steeplechase debut. A third in the Hiskens Steeple followed then he spelled for his 2001 campaign. In the 2001 Von Doussa Steeplechase Jarl defeated St Steven (who was to win the Great Eastern 2 days later) with Maybe Rough and Hibernian Prince (later to fill the Great Eastern placings) third and fourth. Jarl won on the flat and was second behind St Steven in the McDonald Steeple before heading for a spell. In his latest campaign Jarl has already won on the flat in his lead up for this years carnival.

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