The unbeaten run of steeplechaser Bashboy has come to an end with the champion jumper unable to overcome a huge weight and a fighting performance by Maythehorsebemagic in the Australian Steeplechase at Sandown yesterday.
Bashboy ($2.25 fav) carried 10kg more than any of his rivals and it started to tellin the final 800m when Maythehorsebemagic ($2.90), who led from the start, put on the pace as Bashboy began to tire.
It was then that eventual second placegetter Zaman ($4) made his move and took the lead from Maythehorsebemagic, but the Jarrod McLean-trained gelding, ridden by his brother Brad, answered the challenge to fight back and win by 5 lengths, with Bashboy another 5 lengths away third.
Winning trainer McLean praised the great front-running ride by his brother and said Maythehorsebemagic could be a star next season.
In the Australian Hurdle (3400m), Westsouthwest upset the short-priced favourite Montgomery to finish too strongly after the latter had controlled the 3400m race in a field reduced to just four runners.
Westsouthwest turned the tables on Montgomery after their last meeting three weeks ago when the 8-year-old gelding won by five lengths, getting 5kg from his rival.
At level weights, with both carrying 64kg, Westsouthwest ($2.45) outstretched Montgomery ($1.80 fav) to win by 1 lengths with Dubdara ($6.50) third, 10 lengths back.
