Jumps stables test waters

The country's top jumping stables were, not surprisingly, to the fore in the first serious test of the season at Wanganui on Tuesday with Hastings visitor No Quota easily winning the open steeplechase by two lengths.

The Paul Nelson-trained 8-year-old sat on or near the pace throughout the 4100m journey with English rider Charlie Studd aboard before taking control over the final stages to prevail over New Plymouth jumper Izzyosler with Wanganui-trained Noess holding third.

Nelson said he would see how the horse pulled up before setting a path for the season.

"This was only his second chase and now he's won both starts over the big fences," Nelson said. "He's a pretty handy jumper and handles most tracks, but I'll just wait and see."

Nelson wouldn't be drawn on whether he would head south to the Grand National or north to the Great Northern carnivals.

"They're a wee way off and there's plenty in between, so I'm not committing at this stage."

Studd is a relative newcomer to the New Zealand jumping rider ranks, but has ridden more than 50 winners over sticks in his homeland.

John Wheeler, fresh from taking his sixth Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in Australia last week with Banna Strand, was happy enough with Izzyosler's performance for second at Wanganui.

"I probably will be looking at some of the bigger races later in the jumping season with him, although I haven't mapped anything out yet," Wheeler said.

"He's a pretty good chaser even though he's just a wee fella. I wouldn't think I'd take him to Australia this season. I've already got some good types over there at the moment, but maybe Oakbank [South Australia] next year."

The Kevin Myers-trained Noess was a further three lengths away in third ahead of the Evan and JJ Rayner-trained Mr Mor.

Meanwhile, Wanganui Jockey Club committeeman and Steelform Wanganui Heartland rugby team manager Chris Back had his time in the limelight after Cast Iron Jack won the Stephen Crutchley Racing Amateur Riders' Maiden.

Trained by Wheeler and ridden by Wheeler's wife Linda, Cast Iron Jack dashed to the front halfway down the straight to win the 2060m event by a clear length.

Back races the Wonderful World 3-year-old with Wanganui fireman Carl Murphy and mother and son June and Graeme Kissick.

"Graeme's dad Jack passed way last year and they always said he had a cast iron constitution and that's how the name came about," Back said. It was also the first winner on home soil that Back has part-owned.