Nelson was both elated and relieved that the horse had been able to regain winning form, his first victory since the Wellington Hurdles triumph at the same meeting two years ago.
Nelson said he thinks Solid Steal would be an ideal horse for the Great Northern Steeples, a gruelling 6400-metre event where the runners have to negotiate the famous Ellerslie three times, and will use the $35,000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) at Ellerslie on August 25 as a lead-up race.
"I think he's a genuine Northern horse and I'll see if we need to have another run or go straight into the Pakuranga Hunt Cup from here," Nelson said.
Solid Steal is out of the Three Legs mare Taas. He was bred by Hawke's Bay's Arthur Ormond, whose son Marcus trained the horse to win his first race on the flat.
Sea King rules
Sea King, part-owned by his central Hawke's Bay breeder Sue Harty, furthered his impressive record as a jumper with a 2 length win in the minor hurdle race at Saturday's Wellington meeting.
The Shinko King 5-year-old was having his fourth start over hurdles and now has a record of two wins and two thirds.
Harty races the gelding in partnership with Otaki trainer Rachael Frost and Auckland-based Chris O'Reilly and he has now won four races from 19 starts.
O'Reilly got special satisfaction out of Saturday's success as it was the first time he had been on course when the horse has won. It was also the first time his family colours had been carried in a race at Trentham for 50 years.
Sea King, who is out of the Prince Of Praise mare Ocean Princess, was originally prepared at Otaki by Rachael Frost but was transferred to the stable of Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers earlier this year to further the horse's education as a jumper.
Bulls jockey Jo Rathbone has been aboard Sea King in his two hurdle wins and says the horse still has a bit to learn but has a big future as a jumper.
"His attention wanders a bit and that's why you have to keep at him during his races," Rathbone said.
"He's pretty tough, though, and could be a hope in a race like the Grand National Hurdles."
Trainer's first win
Waipukurau-based David Goldsbury celebrated his first training success when The Miner's Son broke through for a maiden win over 1200 metres at Wanganui last Thursday.
Goldsbury mainly concentrates on breaking in and pre-training horses for other trainers but has had a permit-to-train licence for a couple of years.
The Miner's Son is one of two horses he has in full work and he races the 3-year-old in partnership with his wife Anne. They bought the Gold Mine gelding privately from Hallmark Stud.
The Miner's Son had gone close to winning in the past, with a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth from eight previous starts. Rider Rory Hutchings jumped him away quickly from the barrier at Wanganui and he trailed the leader to the home turn before taking control and holding on to win by three-quarters of a length.
The gelding will now step up in distance and grade in a Rating 65 1400-metre event at tomorrow's Hawke's Bay meeting.
Second success
Takapau thoroughbred owner-breeder Jenny Dalby looks to have another promising galloper in I Am Leo, who chalked up his second win from his last four starts when taking out a Rating 65 race over 1340 metres at last Thursday's Wanganui meeting.
Dalby has raced a number of well performed gallopers over the years, including the former smart sprinter-miler Milo.
She bred I Am Leo, who is by Riviera out of the Oregon mare Tabitha.
The 4-year-old was initially trained by Stephen Marsh but when he closed his Woodville stable at the end of last month the horse was transferred to Kevin Gray at Palmerston North.
He was having his first start from the new base at Wanganui last week and scored by 3 lengths.