Outstanding steeplechaser West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) laid down the gauntlet to fellow superstar jumper The Cossack for supremacy in next weekend’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in emphatic fashion at Riccarton on Saturday.
Shooting for his second win in three attempts at the traditional lead-up event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the nine-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu never looked like he got out of third gear as he ambled around behind pacemaker Al’s Red Zed before making his bid for victory at the top of the home straight.
Regular pilot Shaun Fannin eased him over the final two fences before allowing him to stride clear in the dash to the post where he won comfortably by two lengths from Country Bumpkin, with a similar margin back to the late closing Captain’s Run in third.
Fannin, who will attempt to make it a three-peat aboard West Coast in the Grand National Steeplechase after their victories in 2022 and again last year, was delighted his tactics aboard the Mark Oulaghan-trained runner played out perfectly.
“He has sort of had a tendency to hit a flat spot in his races, so I rode him right behind the speed and was happy to forego five or six lengths if he did, but he never hit it today that’s for sure,” Fannin said.
“This was a super run and gives me great confidence heading into the National as he jumped super and when I gave him a squeeze up after the last, he went away on them again.
“I’m keeping pretty fit at home to be ready for a week like this and I’d do anything to ride a good horse like this.”
Oulaghan, who will also provide the favourite for the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) next Saturday in Berry The Cash, was pleased what he saw from his charge.
“It was a very business-like run, and he got the job done at the end,” he said.
“He travelled well, jumped well and got the good result.
“It’s always good to win and that was pretty exciting. We like to bring a few horses down for the National and this race is such a natural lead-up for the big one.”
With no disrespect to the other contenders for the Grand National, TAB Bookmakers anticipate a two-horse war between West Coast and the Paul Nelson runner The Cossack, with the pair listed at $1.60 and $2.60 respectively on the Fixed Odds market ahead of Captains Run at $10.
Raced by the Williamson family from Twizel, West Coast took his career record to ten wins from 36 starts, with all wins coming over fences as he has accumulated over $442,000 in prizemoney.