Racing: Hat trick to magic jumper

Isaac Lupton and Hypnotize lead home Karlos and Lance McFarlane after winning their third Great Northern Steeplechase. Photo / Getty Images

Not even carrying 70.5kg could stop magical jumper Hypnotize completing a hat-trick of victories in the $85,000 Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie yesterday.

Hypnotize has literally won himself out of contesting winter jumps features - underlined by yesterday's monster weight - but the 8-year-old would not back off at the end of a testing staying feature.

Hypnotize had 3 lengths to spare at the finish over Karlos with a further 9 lengths back to Fair King (third).

Ellerslie has been a happy hunting ground for Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors and the faultless jumper - eight starts - for six wins and one minor placing.

Isaac Lupton has ridden Hypnotize in all three Great Northern victories carrying 68.5kg, 69.5kg and 70.5kg.

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Mount Sinai needed Judicial Control Authority (JCA) panel assistance to win the $85,000 Great Northern Hurdles - courtesy of a home straight bumping duel with Solid Steal.

Mount Sinai led throughout, ducking to the middle of the track at the top of the home stretch as Solid Steal dived to the inside and an early lead.

Solid Steal continued to run outwards in the home stretch bumping into Mount Sinai after jumping the final fence.

With only a half-length margin between the provisionally first placed Solid Steal and Mount Sinai at the finish - the JCA reversed the finishing order between them.

Shelley Houston, who rode Mount Sinai, did not stop riding out her mount until late.

However, racehorses must race in a straight line down the home stretch and Solid Steal failed to do so.

No one could begrudge Mount Sinai the victory as the 8-year-old set a strong pace and appeared to run the sprint finish out of the opposition, the only exception being Solid Steal.

Cambridge trainer Ann Browne had the gelding in faultless physical condition for the Great Northern. With four wins and one minor placing from nine starts Ellerslie has been a favoured racing surface.

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Ginga Dude only had a half-head to spare at the finish of the feature $40,000 Open Sprint but he will again be well worth following this season in feature spring racing events.

Ginga Dude scored by a half-head over Sand Hawk with a further three-quarters of a length to Time Keeper (third).

This completed a hat-trick of wins for apprentice jockey Alvin Ng who scored earlier with Oriental Lad and Indian Sky.

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Sam Spratt arrived at Wanganui racecourse yesterday confident of success but had her heart in her mouth after the 2-Year-Old event.

Spratt rode the Peter McKay-trained hot favourite Alvesta who powered to a six length victory in the 800m dash but gave punters a scare midway down the home stretch when veering to the outside of the track.

Alvesta kept running to the outside - thankfully past the winning post - and jumped the outside rail and another fence, in the process dislodging Spratt and hitting the deck.

Luckily the colt son of General Nediym finished the race before his cameo jumping performance or he would have being disqualified.

Spratt recovered from her tumble to combine with Fiddler to score a nose victory over Jimmy Choux and Cellarmaster in the $45,000 Wanganui Guineas. The son of Keeninsky is trained by Tony Gillies.