Peter and Jessica Brosnan are making the most of an exciting opportunity with up-and-coming steeplechaser Auld Jock during the Grand National Carnival in Christchurch over the next week.
Auld Jock has come a long way in a short period of racing this year, winning a maiden hurdle and maiden steeplechase before a tidy performance for fourth in his first major test, the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m).
The diminutive seven-year-old gave the Brosnans a big thrill finishing just a half-length from star jumper The Cossack in the Wellington Steeplechase (5500m), earning himself a trip to the South Island to contest the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) on Saturday week.
Pairing up once again with jockey Joshua Parker, Auld Jock will line up in the key prelude event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m) on Saturday, having travelled to Riccarton Park earlier this week alongside stablemate Teen Titan.
“We were fortunate to get over on the ferry, we rushed home from Waverley, packed and off we went the next day,” Jessica Brosnan said.
“They both travelled well and settled in, Titan licks the bowl wherever you go while Jock is usually a bit more fussy, but he’s eating and feeling well.
“They had a nice gallop on the grass yesterday morning and worked nicely, and we gave them a trot and canter around today, so fingers crossed for Saturday.
“It’s a dream to come down here with a horse, I was lucky to come down a couple of years ago with Kaharau so I vaguely know my way around. We’ve had a look at some of the steeplechase fences and they are so well-presented, so jumpable and inviting.
“The rest of my kids are coming down as well which is cool, you don’t know when you’ll get another nice horse, so we’ll make the most of it. They love the jumpers so it’s good to get the next generation coming through.”
Saturday’s event gives many of the eventual National field a first opportunity to look at the vast Riccarton course, which is in the forefront of Brosnan’s mind.
“We just want him to follow them around and that’s how we’ve raced him every time against these good horses. I’ve told Josh to just get a lead into the jumps then if you know you’re going well, you go for it,” she said.
“He’s only having his sixth steeplechase start and to go up against some of these champions next weekend, it’s going to be a phenomenal race so if he can get around and pick up a prize, we’ll be rapt.”
Teen Titan will contest the opener, the Speights Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden Hurdle (3100m), with Portia Matthews on board, after a nice run for third behind Rocabury at Trentham.
“I think he’s quite well in himself, he’s such a big horse so that track will suit him hopefully. He knows what he’s doing now and he ran well at Wellington, so he can go both days,” she said.
“I really hope we can keep these nice horses coming through, having just the two down here this time is nice so we can get an idea without too much pressure, and hopefully come again with a bigger team next year.”
