Racing: Great Northern the stuff of dreams

Tension and excitement were almost palpable as MIKE DILLON was caught up in the frenzy when two thoroughbreds created New Zealand jumps history.

Michelle Hopkins said she was knackered at the finish of the $100,000 Great Northern Steeplechase yesterday, at the precise moment she ignited New Zealand racing into a frenzy.

Record-equalling Smart Hunter was understandably knackered, too, but everyone else was on fire.

Just what are the odds of a dead-heat after the modern world's toughest thoroughbred endurance test of 6400m with its three times over the debilitating Ellerslie Hill?

We'll, we can't work it out either.

Mercedes boss Ernie Ward said the dead-heat between Smart Hunter and Sir Avion was a sponsor's dream.

This wasn't just a dream for sponsors.

It was a dream for Ann Browne and paralysed husband Ken, a dream for the fabulous Sir Avion cheer squad who made more noise at Ellerslie than any 100 people in the last century, for the Auckland Racing Club and for Michelle Hopkins, who made it a special moment for herself.

"If there is ever a childhood dream come true, this is it," said the emotional 29-year-old after the greatest Great Northern Steeplechase in living memory, and the first dead heat in its 117-year history.

And it is almost sacrilege to say it topped Hunterville's three consecutive victories.

But it did.

And it wasn't just the participants who thought that.

Two of the greatest ever jumps jockeys, Brian (Baggy) Hillis and Peter Wilson, fierce competitors in their day, went to Ellerslie yesterday together for a social day out.

"I don't care if you live to be 110, you'll never see another steeplechase like that again," said Hillis, whose 30-year-old record Smart Hunter equalled when he won both the Great Northern Hurdles on Saturday and yesterday's race.

Hillis and Brockton in 1971 were the last pair to win the famous double.

Hillis had a special thrill that his 38-year-old son Wayne rode Sir Avion.

Just about everyone wanted Smart Hunter to complete the double for Ken Browne.

That became 1000-1 when Smart Hunter, after sharing a decent pace with Sir Avion for the entire journey, was under severe pressure coming down the hill the last time with 700m to run.

The bravery Smart Hunter showed to rally and dead-heat after going into the last fence a tiring one length behind, was sensational.

Particularly after a tough, grinding effort to win Saturday's hurdles.

"He was legless on top of the hill the last time," said Hopkins.

"Coming down the hill his legs were going in all directions."

On Saturday Hopkins became the first woman to win the TV Guide Great Northern and she is now the first woman to complete the famous jumps double.

The remarkable result means Smart Hunter and Sir Avion are now dual Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase winners. And both were maiden steeplechasers before yesterday.

Ann Browne has kept her composure through the toughest five weeks of her life and didn't let her guard down yesterday.

The drama of having a prolonged wait for the result was something Browne could have done without.

"I believe this only because I've seen it," she said.

Ann Browne says she asked husband Ken on Sunday night whether she should start Smart Hunter in yesterday's feature.

"I couldn't work out what he was trying to mouth to me," she said. " I don't know whether Kenny was trying tell me to start the horse or scratch him, then I remembered before he got hurt we'd discussed we'd like to run more of our horses in both races, so I decided the decision had to be mine."

The decision led to the eighth time the Brownes have won New Zealand's most famous jumping race.

Ann Browne is nothing if not pragmatic.

"I've never had a proper job in my life. I lived with my parents until I married Kenny in 1959 and since then all I've done is work.

"I've never had a proper holiday - certainly not a lie-on-the-beach holiday."

The most moving moment of the race was when Sir Avion's part-owner and trainer Kevin O'Connor walked to Smart Hunter's unsaddling stall and embraced Ann Browne in a long hug.

"I've known Ken and Ann for a lot of years and a dead-heat today is a wonderful result.

"I was so thrilled we shared the win."

Michelle Hopkins said she was never worried about Smart Hunter sharing the pace with Sir Avion throughout the long race.

"That doesn't worry him. Mrs Browne said to let him go if he wants to go."

Wayne Hillis kept Hopkins aware of where they were.

"Coming through the middle the first time I had a look behind and said: "We're 10 lengths in front."

"Through the centre the next time I said: "Hey, we're 20 lengths in front.""

Apart from Wickerman, who made a dash at the dead-heaters over the second last fence, the rest of the field may as well have been in another race.

Neither rider knew who had won.

Hillis: "I thought perhaps Smart Hunter had won and when they showed the slow motion replay when we were coming back the crowd cheered as they hit the finish and I thought that must have meant the Browne horse had won because the crowd were right behind him and Michelle."

Sir Avion's part-owner John Arnott, a Kiwi these days living on Queensland's Gold Coast, and Ann Browne, agreed that they had never seen a race that deserved a dead-heat result more.

"Neither horse deserved to lose."