It would not be Warrnambool if trainer Eric Musgrove did not win a jumps race at the May Carnival.
Musgrove has been coming to the three-day Carnival for more than 40 years and has won the feature jumps races – the Grand Annual Steeplechase, Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle – on numerous occasions.
With a new breed of trainer now coming through, those races are getting tougher to win, but Musgrove, for the second year running, claimed the Champion Novice Hurdle (3200m).
Last year $21 outsider El Diez won the race by three-quarters-of-a-length while this time around Circle The Sun raced to a comfortable victory.
Ridden by Campbell Rawiller, Order The Sun ($7.50) scored by 5-¼ lengths from the $1.95 favourite Nelson with Furioso ($10) seven lengths further back.
A maiden winner over jumps at Pakenham last month, Musgrove said Circle The Sun was impressive in his all-the-way win on Thursday.
“That was a good field today,” Musgrove said.
“I thought if he runs in the first three he’ll have done a good job.
“He might be a real chance in a better race, and I think he deserves a crack at the better races now.
“Campbell couldn’t have ridden him any better. I left it up to him, but I would have liked to get a bit of cover in that class of field, but it was up to him to make his own decisions.
“He rode him a treat. He’s a star of the future.”
Rawiller, who rode his first Warrnambool Carnival winner earlier in the week and is now unbeaten in two rides on Circle The Sun, said the gelding had been able to raise the bar quickly.
“When I saw Steven Pateman give Nelson a slap on the backside I thought we were really on here.,” Rawiller said.
“He was traveling so well, and the horse was amazing.
“He has been able to raise the bar so quickly and put them away so dominantly. It is just amazing to be a part of this carnival and I can’t thank them enough.
“Long live the ‘bool. Long live jumps racing.”
