Racing: Fence comes in for trim

By MIKE DILLON

Three times over Ellerslie's feared Hill helps make the $100,000 Great Northern Steeplechase New Zealand horse racing's toughest event.

Well, it's about to get minutely easier, because 25cm is to be taken from the height of the last fence.

It is the only erected fence on the course - the remainder of Ellerslie's famed steeplechase course is live brush - and jockeys believe it is just a little too big.

"The jumps jockeys mentioned their concerns to Sheryl and Roger McGlade at the jumping trials here last week," said Auckland Racing Club racing manager Andrew O'Toole.

Chief northern stipendiary steward Alan Coles inspected the fence with O'Toole yesterday and decided to take a significant slice off the height.

"The jockeys felt the fence was too daunting for the horses after a tough race over the Hill," said O'Toole.

"The last thing we want is for horses to get around safely over the four miles [of the Great Northern] and then fall at the last.

"The other fences here are brilliant because they are live and horses brush through them perfectly."

The height will not simply be chopped from the top of the brush.

"If we do that, the brush will be very stalky and could damage the horses.

"We're going to take it off the bottom of the brush and push the pieces down through the fence from the top."

The first to try the new fence will be Great Northern hero Golden Flare, who will school over the Ellerslie course as part of the Mercedes and ARC media launch on Monday.

A week later the miraculous veteran will attempt to become only the second horse to win three consecutive Great Northerns.

His successful rider in 2002 and 2003, Clayton Chipperfield is making a special trip from the United States to ride Golden Flare.