Racing: Hiflyer classy under big weight

Johnathan Parkes rides Hiflyer to victory at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Peter Lock didn't have much to say after Hiflyer's stunning first-up win at Ruakaka on Saturday.

He was stunned by the victory of the best horse he has trained.

Yesterday was totally different. He didn't run our mobile out of battery in the morning, but close.

Lock was thrilled with the way the slightly less than robust gelding had come through a long road trip and what could have been a tough race under a pretty huge 61.5kg clear topweight.

"You might not have guessed it but I had my heart in my mouth from the time the horses left the birdcage." When a horse of Hiflyer's class resumes after a six month break, nerves are inevitable. Those were heightened by the fact the tough task could take the edge off the topliner.

"Don't worry, Johnathan (Parkes) was under strict instructions from Patrick (Sir Patrick Hogan) - don't knock him around. I told Johnathan under no circumstances not to hit him behind the saddle. If he got into trouble as a result I told him I'd pay the fine."

Everyone was happy after Hiflyer pushed his way into the clear from a pocket behind the leaders and into the clear to have a crack at the winning post.

"He actually got unbalanced for a few strides under that weight, but once he balanced up his class showed," said Lock.

Hiflyer had to work only for a few strides and the fear of a gut-buster were eliminated.

"He didn't lick his bowl clean overnight, but I knew he wouldn't. He still had a decent feed and he ate most of his hay. He's never going to be a robust horse, no matter how much time he's given. He's 489kg wringing wet and we're always mindful of that. He's come through this as well as anyone could have expected."

Lock has a meeting with Sir Patrick tomorrow to decide on a probable Australian campaign and was leaving it until today to have a full phone discussion with Parkes.

"Jonathan was under pressure yesterday. He arrived at the track from the airport with only 20 minutes to spare and was running short of time to get back to the airport after the race.

"As he was heading to the shower he brushed past me, shook his head and said: "Unbelievable." One of the points up for discussion tomorrow will be a rider if the Sydney campaign goes ahead. "I probably have a fair bit of say in that and I can't see any point in putting anyone but Johnathan on him. He knows the horse better than anyone and what would be the point in engaging someone else."

There are plenty of advantages in taking Hiflyer to Sydney for a brief campaign. New Zealand horses almost always perform better on their second trip to Australia. They cope with the travel and unfamiliar surroundings so much better after the first experience.

"There will definitely be no more than two races and I don't mind if it's only one."

●You could never rate a winning run in a Manawatu maiden steeplechase alongside Hiflyer's, but on Saturday you simply had to. Aaron Kuru's performance aboard debut steeplechaser Des De Jeu was astonishing.

"He landed too steeply over the first fence," said Kuru, in explanation of why Des De Jeu crashed and slid along the track over the first jump.

Kuru also slid alongside then, in a remarkable act of athleticism, allowed the horse to lift his weight up as Des De Jeu regained his feet. In a split second Kuru had his left leg over the opposite side of the saddle and pulled himself upright. A fence later he regained his stirrup irons, caught the field after a lap of the course and, in a tough finish, got up to win.

Kuru's quick few words with a clerk of the course posted 40m beyond the first fence clearly had elements of: "Am I able to continue?"

Recently New Zealand racing put a rule in place disallowing jockeys to remount after a fall. It would have been a brave steward who took this race off the winner.

"I quite like this horse," said a bemused trainer Mark Oulaghan.

Well, guess what Mark, we're on your team."