Top-class jumper Magic Wonder will contest her first steeplechase since her victory in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) two years ago when she lines-up in the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Trainer Jo Rathbone has taken a patient approach with the mare since her historic Pakuranga Hunt Cup – Great Northern Steeplechase double, with the mare only returning to the racetrack last month.
Magic Wonder had picked up a slight injury last year, and with the jumps season being so late in 2020 as a result of COVID-19, Rathbone elected to bypass last year’s jumping season with the nine-year-old.
“She had a slight injury which wasn’t really much at all, a slight tendon strain,” Rathbone said.
“We could have brought her back for the later part of last year, but because the jumping season was so late the year prior I didn’t want to rush to get her back, and I wanted to do the right thing by the horse.”
Magic Wonder made her racing return last month, tailing the field home in both of her flat outings. However, Rathbone was pleased with her progress and was expecting those performances on the flat.
“She is not overly speedy and takes a bit to get going,” Rathbone said. “It has been a long, slow build-up and she has had a jumping trial and flat trial.
“She just needed a few runs to improve her fitness. That was great for her.”
While Rathbone is hoping for a good result on Saturday with her mare, she expects to see a fair bit of improvement from her as the season progresses.
“She is still on the way up and whatever happens she will improve a lot,” Rathbone said.
“It is the start of the season and it is a long season.”
A return to Trentham is in the offing for Magic Wonder, but Rathbone said she will see how her mare performs this weekend before mapping out a path for the rest of the seaon.
“We will just see how the season goes, she doesn’t like it really heavy,” she said.
“I would love to take her to the National, but If it was a bog it wouldn’t suit her, she would be better suited going to the northern if that was the case.
“If she goes well at Trentham, we will look to go back for the Wellington Steeplechase.”
Rathbone is also looking forward to heading to Hawera on Sunday where six-year-old Jan’s Giant will make his debut in the Collingwood Civil “Trial Offer” Maiden.
“He jumps very nicely and I think he will make quite a nice jumper,” Rathbone said.
Meanwhile, Rathbone said her former star jumper Tallyhoe Twinkletoe is enjoying retirement after his illustrious career, which included wins in the Grand National Hurdle
(4200m), Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Grand National Hurdle
(4200m), Ballarat Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), Pakenham Brendan
Drechsler Hurdle (3500m), and Koral Steeplechase (4250m).
For his deeds in Australia he was crowned Champion Jumper for the 2019/20 season.
“He retired sound and we wanted to do the best thing by him,” Rathbone said.
“There were a few things that bothered him, which he had for a little while and I would hate to have seen anything bad happen to him.
“He owes me nothing and had proven himself a champion.
“He was amazing. I don’t think there is any other horse that did what he did. Winning the national hurdle and chase on both sides of the Tasman,
“He is just and amazing individual, he is lovely natured.”
