Rising ten-year-old Interllectus (Intello) showed there was still plenty of fight left in the old dog as he refused to yield over the closing stages when capturing the Taumarunui Racing @Te Rapa 27/7 Steeplechase (3900m) on Saturday.
A maiden winner on the flat back in August 2019, the Kevin Myers-prepared son of Intello has found his niche over jumps since winning at his hurdling debut back in 2020.
Good enough to place fifth in the 2022 Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), Interllectus made a successful switch to the bigger fences last season and was ready to strike after finishing in the placings in two of his last three steeplechase starts in his current campaign.
Rider Hamish McNeill took the bull by the horns early in the contest as he sent his mount straight to the front, disputing a slow pace with Renegade Fighter for most of the journey before taking control with 1000m left to run.
Hotly pursued by stablemate Afterallthistime, Renegade Fighter and a fast-closing Captains Run, Interllectus showed plenty of courage to hold out the powerful finish of Captains Run by a neck with Renegade Fighter shading Afterallthistime for third.
McNeill was quick to pay tribute to the performance of his mount.
“That was a massive run,” McNeill said.
“I really liked how he went at Te Aroha two weeks ago (second) and I thought today don’t die wondering as he is an old boy without a turn of foot, but he has a heart as big as himself.
“He jumped out of his skin today and it was a very good race.
“From what I’ve been told he could be heading towards the National and he will come in on a sneaky weight.
“He does everything you want a chaser to do as jumps well, settles and gets through the ground so you can’t ask for more than that.”
The Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 149th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will be contested as the feature event on the card at Riccarton on 10 August.
Out of the Irish mare Shanya, Interllectus is closely related to a host of outstanding European gallopers including Shankardeh, the joint Champion 3YO Female Stayer in Great Britain in 2011.
Raced by a group that includes his trainer, Interllectus has now won five races from just 27 starts.
