The time-honoured Warrnambool May Carnival is only five weeks away and those with jumpers are gearing up for the big three-day event.
But getting the right program for their horse can be a problem as trainer Brett Scott found on the weekend.
Scott, who needs no introduction to the jump’s fraternity, especially at Warrnambool, has Zedstar (NZ) (Zed) aimed at the Brierly Steeplechase on May 2 and the Grand Annual Steeplechase two days later.
Zedstar was to have a conditioning run at the picnic meeting at Healesville on Saturday over 2350m but was third emergency and did not gain a start.
Instead, Scott comes to town on Wednesday with Zedstar to run in the Thoroughbred Club Australia Handicap (2400m).
“I just want to get him on track for the jump’s races coming up,” Scott said.
“He runs on Wednesday, goes to the jump’s trials at Cranbourne on April 6 and then the plan is to kick off his jumping prep at Pakenham on April 16.
“I’m thinking he’ll run in the one jump win over the steeples and then we’ll head to Warrnambool and run in the Brierly and the Grand Annual.”
Zedstar has run 14 times without success over both hurdles and bigger jumps while Scott said he was thwarted by heavy track last season.
“He lacks a lot of flat ability, but he jumps really well, he stays well, and being by Zed from a Pentire mare he’s a naturally fit type of horse,” Scott said.
“I still can’t believe he hasn’t won a jumps race.
“He keeps running into this classy flat horse of Ciaron Maher’s and hence the reason we think steeplechasing might just take a bit of the class out of the other horses.
“He was probably a bit stiff last year copping such a wet winter, copping heavy tracks which is probably not really to his liking.
“He’s always done well in the earlier part of the season when the tracks aren’t as wet.”
