Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Racing: Waverley's It's A Wonder wins Grand National Steeplechase

Whanganui Chronicle
11 Aug, 2019 01:07 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
It's A Wonder clears a fence in fine style as he heads to victory in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday. Photos by Race Images South
It's A Wonder clears a fence in fine style as he heads to victory in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday. Photos by Race Images South

It's A Wonder clears a fence in fine style as he heads to victory in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday. Photos by Race Images South

Waverley visitor It's A Wonder never gave his rivals a look in as he produced a dashing front-running performance to take out the 145th edition of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Harvey Wilson-trained 9-year-old had loomed as a serious contender for the day's contest after an effortless win in last Saturday's traditional lead-up, the Koral Steeplechase (4250m).

That victory secured the Istidaad gelding favouritism for the National, however there were many including his trainer, who held a niggling doubt about his ability to last a tough slog in testing conditions over the 5600m journey.

Those doubts were smashed to pieces as rider Shaun Phelan called the tune throughout on his mount, who had his eight rivals under heavy pressure as he upped the tempo with 1600m to run.

Despite getting tired in the final stages, It's A Wonder never looked like being run down as he cruised over the line more than twenty lengths to the good of Gagarin, who chased bravely ahead of Mr Enthusiastic and Des De Jeu.

Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A jubilant Phelan admitted he was feeling lonely at times with such a large break on the field and resorted to singing his favourite tune to keep his concentration up.

"I just thought I'd let him do what he does best which is to roll along," Phelan said.

"She was lonely out there in front and I think I sang my favourite song, Blurred Lines, about three or four times.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Coming to the last fence I was just praying it would come up right and it came up great.

"Harvey [Wilson] is one of the best jumps trainers but he's never really had a good go at one of these big races. He's found the right horse to do it today.

"He's such a great conditioner of a horse, that's why I rode him how I did as I knew he would be the fittest horse in the race."

Wilson, who was struggling to keep his emotions in check as he took in congratulations on the victory, admitted he was hoping for a postponement of the day's racing due to the heavy rain that had seen the going downgraded to a very deep and testing Heavy11.

"We were actually hoping they might put the races off as we weren't confident at all with this rain," he said.

"Shaun was fantastic, he [It's A Wonder] jumped fantastic, what a thrill.

"This is as good it gets."

It's A Wonder took his career record to eight wins from 49 starts for the Wilson family who narrowly missed a notable double after Bad Boy Brown was narrowly beaten in Wednesday's Grand National Hurdles (4200m). – NZ Racing Desk

Shaun Phelan with Anne and Harvey Wilson as they pose with the winning trophy for Saturday's Grand National Steeplechase.
Shaun Phelan with Anne and Harvey Wilson as they pose with the winning trophy for Saturday's Grand National Steeplechase.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

'Biggest event': Whanganui Marist takes on challenge of hosting football tournament

18 Sep 06:00 PM
Sport

Rugby: Whanganui brace for tough Heartland derby

18 Sep 05:00 PM
Sport

Rugby: Whanganui Women chase Heartland crown in Ruatōria

18 Sep 05:00 PM

Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

07 Sep 12:00 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Heartbreaking': NZ Rugby fines Heartland Championship side over player-eligibility breach
Rugby

'Heartbreaking': NZ Rugby fines Heartland Championship side over player-eligibility breach

19 Sep 02:01 AM
Kitchen Things' Napier and Nelson stores to close this weekend
New Zealand

Kitchen Things' Napier and Nelson stores to close this weekend

19 Sep 02:01 AM
Man with 5000 child abuse images avoids prison term
Rotorua Daily Post

Man with 5000 child abuse images avoids prison term

19 Sep 02:00 AM
20-minute free parking approved for Tauranga city centre and fringe zones
Bay of Plenty Times

20-minute free parking approved for Tauranga city centre and fringe zones

19 Sep 01:52 AM
Mystery surrounds identity of person found dead at Christchurch property
Christchurch

Mystery surrounds identity of person found dead at Christchurch property

19 Sep 01:46 AM
Court seizes assets of Maradona's lawyer, sisters in fraud case
Sport

Court seizes assets of Maradona's lawyer, sisters in fraud case

19 Sep 01:46 AM


Latest from Sport

'Biggest event': Whanganui Marist takes on challenge of hosting football tournament
Sport

'Biggest event': Whanganui Marist takes on challenge of hosting football tournament

The tournament is at Whanganui's Wembley Park on September 20-21.

18 Sep 06:00 PM
Rugby: Whanganui brace for tough Heartland derby
Sport

Rugby: Whanganui brace for tough Heartland derby

18 Sep 05:00 PM
Rugby: Whanganui Women chase Heartland crown in Ruatōria
Sport

Rugby: Whanganui Women chase Heartland crown in Ruatōria

18 Sep 05:00 PM


Kiwi campaign keeps on giving
Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

07 Sep 12:00 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search