Jakama Krystal (NZ) (Jakkalberry) capped off a weekend to remember for Peter and Jessica Brosnan with a classy front-running performance to win the Clayton Yaxley Maiden Steeplechase (3900m) at Hawera on Sunday.
The Brosnan’s collected the major spoils in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m) on Saturday with Ima Wonder, and they were straight back on the road to the Central Districts with Jakama Krystal, who was on steeplechasing debut after a pair of successes in the hurdling role.
Rated a $5.10 third-fancy behind Khafeef ($2.90) and Zeefa Zed ($3.20), the mare was straight into her work and moved up to sit outside the early leader in Uncle Charlie, but coming down the home straight for the second time, jockey Jay Kozaczek allowed her to extend the margin.
With ears pricked, Jakama Krystal was full of running as she flew her fences along the back stretch and had the field chasing a long way from home, with Obrigado getting the closest as she powered to victory by 7 ¾ lengths.
Watching from home in Matamata, Jessica Brosnan was thrilled with the daughter of Jakkalberry and indicated she will be mixing steeplechasing and hurdling in the future.
“She likes free-rolling out in front, I was a bit worried about the extra distance of the steeplechase and I don’t think she’s come to the end of it hurdling, but it adds another string to her bow,” she said.
“She can go wherever now, we’ll keep her at those style of jump as the brush fences aren’t really her thing.
“We’ve got a couple of Woodville meetings left and she’s won there over the hurdles, so depending on what the weather does and who wants to ride her, she could go in either of the hurdles or steeples.”
A winner of five races, Jakama Krystal holds a special place in the hearts of the Matamata trainers, as she was formerly trained by a close friend in the late Glynn Brick prior to his tragic passing in 2020.
“She came through Peter’s best friend Glynn Brick, he unfortunately died in a car accident so we inherited her and the owner as well, Jane Baker, who has a half-share in her with us,” Brosnan said.
“Anything we do with her is a very special, because Glynn was very proud of her and loved the jumpers. If he was still alive now with the jumping days we have here, he would be in his element.
“We got a couple of other horses from him that also won, so we’re privileged to have Krystal and keeping her going.”
Looking ahead to the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) to be run on September 15 at Te Rapa, the stable hope to engage both Ima Wonder and Auld Jock, with the latter coming off a massive performance for second behind West Coast in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) earlier this month.
“He (Auld Jock) has had a week off in the paddock, then we worked him at home and swam him last week. He’s pretty full of himself, so he’ll go back to the track this week and get back up to his normal work,” Brosnan said.
“If he continues this way, we may have to give him a run on the flat so that he’s not too fresh for the 6400 metres. He always tries his little heart out so I think he’ll see out the distance.”
Ima Wonder’s success was particularly fitting for the stable as they prepare her for legendary racing figure Ann Browne, who prepared her mother Ima Heroine to win the Great Northern Steeplechase in 2011.
“Ima Heroine won the Great Northern Steeplechase in the same year we won the Great Northern Hurdles with Southern Countess, they were the first mares in 60 years to win and Matthew Gillies rode both horses,” Brosnan said.
“Matt came to Te Rapa just to watch Wonder’s race, so that was awesome.
“Mrs Browne is fantastic for racing and particularly jumps, she, Kenny (Browne) and Brian Timms introduced the jumps down the back straight at Te Rapa and they put so much work in.
“For her to win a race over her jumps is just amazing, she’s an absolute legend.
“I haven’t been able to catch Wonder today, so that’s how tired she is. I got close enough to check out her legs and she’s looking good, she’s bucking and rearing around her paddock.
“We went there with an open mind yesterday to give her an opportunity to look at the brush fences at Te Rapa, in the hope that she would go well enough to push on to the Northern.
“We knew getting her back to the live fences, that would be her go. I’m not convinced she wants a really heavy track, so the slightly better surface was preferrable as well.
“It was a huge thrill, hopefully we can carry on and go close in the Northern.”
