KEY POINTS:
Kevin Hughes is a man on an emotional mission.
Hughes might be a relatively strong bloke, but if Black Eagle wins tomorrow's $60,000 PGG Wrightson Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton don't be surprised if there is a teary moment.
It almost happened when Black Eagle turned on a
dazzling display of jumping and stamina to win the Wellington Steeplechase last month.
But this is the Grand National.
It's a difficult thing for us non-Cantabrians to understand.
No other region comes even close to it in revering its sporting heroes and iconic sporting and racing moments.
There is more heritage around the Grand National than any other thoroughbred horse race in Canterbury.
Imagine, then, Hughes' thrill as the producer of the first Canterbury-trained horse to win the race in 54 years when the game little Eric The Bee took the historic race in 2002.
He says there will be no less emotion for himself when Black Eagle tomorrow attempts to win the big race again for the local Riccarton stable.
"When you live in Canterbury it becomes a way of life and the National is a very important race for us."
There is one fact the astute Hughes will probably leave out of his acceptance speech if Black Eagle is successful - he is not a native Cantabrian.
Hughes moved his training operation from the Manawatu to Christchurch 11 years ago.
"They don't seem to know I'm not one of them," he joked yesterday.
"I suppose I'd just about get a full passport if I applied."
That was a given the moment Eric The Bee got over the line in 2002, and a lifetime endorsement will no doubt apply if Black Eagle can win.
And he is the horse to beat.
In winning the Waikato Steeplechase, Black Eagle showed he was a fabulous jumper of the bigger fences.
At Trentham he added extreme stamina to that list of talents.
Bingo. Those are the two requirements to win Grand Nationals and Black Eagle has the added advantage this time of being on his home track.
Black Eagle is a spectacular jumper and, almost certain to lead, he will give a great sight.
Hughes has maintained the big, athletic gelding has done extremely well since Trentham and that was borne out when he finished a good seventh in the R70 1800m flat race at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Black Eagle will be ridden for the first time by Shelley Houston as a result of the luckless Joanne Rathbone having to stand down for a mandatory three weeks after being knocked out when she fell from Finntorri in the maiden steeplechase at Riccarton on Wednesday (see story at left).
The Allan Sharrock-trained Stitched looks the one to beat after he comprehensively downed most of the other contenders in the Koral Steeples on the first day.
Stitched was strong at the end of the Koral, suggesting he will not have too much trouble with the extreme distance this time.
The mystery horse is Just A Swagger, twice a winner of the Grand National Hurdles.
He is generally a dour type who grinds his opposition into submission, but he surprisingly wilted at the end of the Koral last Saturday.
Just A Swagger is far too good to dismiss for that one failure, though, and deserves at least this one more chance.