KEY POINTS:
Supporters of favourite Jump To It could have been excused for tearing up their tickets in the closing stages of yesterday's $50,000 Rotorua and Bay Of Plenty Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Rotorua.
But rider Missy Browne said it was all part of the plan.
Jump To It, at
$2.90 to win, looked beaten with 700m to run dropping back to third after having made all the pace.
Browne, however, said she was simply biding her time and was adopting a tactic she had employed on the horse in previous rides.
"I've done it every other time. So I didn't think I would ride him any different," Browne said.
Her confidence in the horse's ability was well justified with Jump To It easily regaining the lead at the top of the straight before stretching out to score by 3 1/2 lengths.
Second favourite Hypnotize was runner-up with Tokiocity five lengths away third and 7 1/2 lengths to Call Me Murray in fourth.
Browne said yesterday's win was some consolation for Jump To It's misfortune in the $60,000 Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham on July 14 when he was run out at a fence by a rival.
Browne said Jump To It was faultless at each of the 21 fences this time.
"He didn't make one mistake, he was awesome the whole way."
Jump To It has been the jumping find of the winter.
The 9-year-old Heroicity gelding, who has only raced as a steeplechaser, had won his three starts prior to the Wellington Steeplechase.
Before that he had racked six successive runner-up placings. In his only other three starts, a fourth placing was his best.
Jump To It was a 7-year-old when he made his racing debut in August, 2004 and is trained at Te Awamutu by Andrew Meikle.
Yesterday's winning stake of $31,250 doubled his earnings to $62,350.
Meikle said he would consider sending Jump To It south for the $60,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on August 11.
Earlier on yesterday's Rotorua programme, top flat performer Balmuse, making his jumps debut, could only finish fourth in a $12,000 maiden hurdle.
Balmuse, winner of the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) was backed into favouritism.
He jumped well, went to the front on straightening for the run home but weakened to be beaten 14 lengths by the winner Nufsed.
It was, however, the effort of an improver as he had not been raced for a month.
- NZPA