Racing: Liquid Lunch goes down a real treat

MELBOURNE - Trainer Chris Hyland emulated his father, former top jockey Pat Hyland, when he landed his first A$200,000 ($222,000) Grand National Steeplechase with Lindsay Park discard Liquid Lunch at Flemington on Saturday.

Pat Hyland, who trained 1996 winner Best Endeavours, helped out his son when he gave Liquid Lunch a glowing report after riding him in his last serious lead-up gallop on Thursday morning.

"He said 'Mate, this thing is just humming'," Hyland said.

"The horse has just bloomed since last week and I just had a really good feeling the last couple of days.

"When the rain came I thought 'it is probably going to be a real slog and he's really fit'."

Like Best Endeavours, Liquid Lunch was not known as a wet tracker but he outclassed his rivals in the rain over the 4500m, forging clear over the last 200 metres to win by 2 1/2 lengths from topweight Merlos with Super Cobra another five lengths away third.

Last week Liquid Lunch finished fifth to Enzed in the Grand National Hurdle, a week after winning the Ian Macdonald Steeplechase by five lengths at Moonee Valley.

"He is just a champion," Hyland said. "You just wouldn't get a more honest horse."

The Fraar eight-year-old was bred at Lindsay Park and Hyland bought him in late 2002 after five wins for that stable.

Otago steeplechaser Gold Jet will return home this week after running last. Gold Jet looked set to play a part in the finish as he loomed up wide in the straight, but faded over the last 300m.

* New Zealand galloper Salsa will be aimed at a rich mares' race during the Melbourne spring carnival after winning the A$150,000 Winter Championship Final at Flemington on Saturday.

Salsa, who had raced consistently in the Winter Championship series in Victoria, will have a few weeks off before returning in the spring, Victorian trainer David Bourne said.

Salsa was sent to Bourne by Cambridge trainer Margaret Falconer, so she could earn some black type in Australia.

She achieved that in Saturday's listed stakes' event and showed her connections enough to think she could do well in the spring.

"The Matriarch might be a race she'd be up to," Bourne said.

The group three Matriarch Stakes for mares is run over 2000m at Flemington in November.

Salsa seemed to relish the conditions, with rain loosening the Flemington track. She had the run of the 1630m race and was too strong at the post for Milkshake and pacemaker Live In Vain.

Falconer, a part-owner of Salsa with Tony Madden, sent Salsa to Bourne earlier in the year, with the winter series mapped out as a suitable target.

Said Bourne: "Margaret said Salsa had won over 1600m in one minute 44 seconds one day, so I knew she'd get through the wet, which is what you usually contend with at Flemington at this time of year."

"Her form right through has been excellent. She ran a terrific second at Bendigo then it was another excellent run at Flemington last start. I was very confident she'd run well."