| Reigning
Nakayama Grand Jump winner St. Steven has shown he's on track for his second successive
win in the Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley after winning a flat race at that track
this afternoon. Trained by John Wheeler, the
seven-year-old gelding scored by a length in the AMS Law Handicap (3000m). The son of Hula
Town was well in at the weights after a three kilogram claim for apprentice Michelle
Payne.
In the run to the line St. Steven was too good holding out
Le Thief to win by a length. Randoman was a further two and a half lengths away in third
place.
Meanwhile, in other news Frances Houlahan, the training
daughter of legendary jumps preparer Jim, said today's steeple winner Sampan Man would
probably not back up in Saturday's Grand National.
The $2.90 favourite proved much too good in the two mile
novice event winning by eight lengths.
Sampan Man looked like having a great battle when he came
to the last fighting out the finish with the Eric Musgrove trained Pooky Bear, before that
runner fell at the final obstacle.
The race turned out to be a case of the last one standing
with only five of the original ten runners able to finish the race. Two horses fell, one
lost the rider while another two failed to finish. |
