Kiwi jumper Zed Em (NZ) (Zed) will be out to land a fourth successive Ecycle Solutions Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) at Oakbank on Wednesday.
The gelding, who flits between New Zealand trainer Kevin Myers and Victorian horseman Patrick Payne, is back in Australia for another jumps season and will be partnered by Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru on Wednesday, who has relocated across the Tasman to ride for Payne.
Zed Em won the Von Doussa in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but with no Oakbank carnival last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it will be two years since the son of Zed was seen at Oakbank.
Kuru has ridden the top jumper in two steeplechase trials this month.
“He seems to be going well. I don’t ride him that much but I rode him in trials at Cranbourne and Warrnambool.
“He is pretty straight forward and gets straight on the bridle and gets through his work pretty well.”
Kuru believes he is as fit as he has ever been and is enjoying the change of scenery.
“I have been over around a month now. We start a bit later in the mornings than we did in New Zealand, which just means we finish a bit later in the morning,” he said.
“It is a unique set-up with some home-made tracks that Paddy has put together and the horses really seem to thrive in the atmosphere. It is a pretty awesome place to be working.”
Kuru admitted to being a bit jaded by New Zealand racing and was looking for a change.
“My partner and I were looking to move over. I had a talk to Dummy (Kevin Myers) last year to see if he could set me up somewhere in Victoria riding, thinking I’d give it another go and he put me on to Paddy,” Kuru said.
“I spoke to Paddy once and then next time I spoke to him was when I showed up on the property. I am really enjoying it.”
