Kipkeino produced a career best performance at Hastings yesterday to claim top honours in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles.
The rising 10-year-old only had a maiden success over the smaller fences to his credit before taking aim at the feature, but he rose to the challenge in dashing style for part-ownerand trainer Lucy de Lautour.
"That was a fantastic ride by Shaun and I'm just so delighted, this makes everything worthwhile," she said. "It's only his fourth start this preparation so we're all really chuffed."
Runner-up at Trentham at his previous outing, Kipkeino was given an economical passage behind the pace by Shaun Phelan who was able to push through on the fence to move into serious contention across the top. They were in front at the final flight and the son of the Zabeel horse Sunray held a strong gallop to win with authority.
"He's an exceptional jumper and an easy ride really," Phelan said. "When we jumped I thought there would be more pace on so I was quite happy to sit in the trail.
"I was following the Myers horses and then got through and he kept going strongly."
A six-time winner on the flat, Kipkeino had a length and a quarter to spare on Justa Charlie, who had the winner's measure when they last met at Trentham.
The topweight and favourite Sea King rallied bravely to be a nose back in third spot after being under pressure at the top of the straight.
Gail Temperton isn't under-estimating the part the Irish factor is playing in the development of her jumper Just Ishi.
The Awapuni horsewoman produced the nine-year-old to thump his rivals in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase with major winter targets to follow at Trentham and, in all likelihood, at Riccarton.
Following Just Ishi's runaway Hastings success, Temperton was quick to praise the role the Irish-born jockey Gary Walsh has had in the horse's emergence. "He rode another fantastic race and you just can't say enough about someone with his experience," she said.
Walsh has been aboard Just Ishi in all three of his victories over the big fences and he has also partnered the son of Ishiguru in two wins over hurdles and one in a highweight.
