An almost faultless display of jumping over 33 fences and 5500m has given Duke Of Bedford victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
Duke Of Bedford became the first jumper since Gold Medals in 2018 to complete the steeplechase double at the Warrnambool Carnival, having already taken out the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday.
In taking out the double, Duke Of Bedford collected a $50,000 bonus to go on top of the $192,500 winner’s cheque.
Sent out the $3.70 betting sites favourite under Arron Lynch, Duke Of Bedford led throughout in scoring by 12 lengths from Instigator ($5.50) with Bazini ($15) a further 10 lengths away third.
Trainer Andrew Bobbin, a former Rugby League player who became a TV cameraman before turning his hand to training racehorses, said Thursday’s victory was a bonus.
“The Brierly was the goal, but I might have undersold his ability,” Bobbin told racing.com.
“Our record with jumpers is immaculate.
“Our property is built for stayers, but the only stayers we have are jumpers.
“The stayers I buy are no good, so when the time is right and we get the right staying horses, we know that we can keep them sound, keep them improving all the time and this horse is testament to the whole operation.”
Bobbin’s property on the outskirts of Stawell, is built on heavy sand which allows the trainer to get the work into his horses while keeping them sound.
Duke Of Bedford led throughout with William Mccarthy in the saddle on Tuesday, but Lynch had been pre-booked for Thursday’s mount.
Bobbin praised Lynch’s ride, although he thought the jumper may have been going too quick in the mid-stages of the 5500m marathon.
“I was watching him go around and I thought ‘Lynchy, what are you doing’,” Bobbin said.
“He kept finding and finding and I thought we’re going to stop soon, but coming down the hill the second time, he’s only got to get over the last few, and that’s what he was able to do.
“What a ride, a confident ride, and every jockey tells me, he might look like he’s doing too much, but he’s just cruising.”
Lynch has not had luck go his way in previous attempts at Grand Annual success and thought he was going to endure another tough day on Thursday.
Coming down the hill the first time, where the field swings left after going right on Tuesday, Lynch was having difficulty in steering Duke Of Bedford on the right course.
“He was a bit suspect there and Tom Ryan (on Count Zero) came up and helped guide me around,” Lynch said.
“I’ve had a lot of back luck in the race. I’ve come off going over the double, I’ve had horses fall in front of me like last year.
“I’ve had horses take me on from a mile out and burn me up, so today, out in front, no bad luck, we got the job done.”
