THREE locally trained horses fought tooth and nail to the post in the highlighted steeplechase race to open the Wanganui Jockey Club's new season at the racecourse yesterday.
Snodroptwinkletoes, trained by Wanganui's Kevin Myers, kicked on to the line to win a thrilling $20,000 Jolt Coffee House Wanganui Steeplechase, halfa length clear of Marton trainer Dan O'Leary's Carinya, with another Myers charge in Krase coming third.
A solid 10-horse field contested the 15 jumps over 4100m, with Brave Buccaneer the early pacemaker, followed by Flying Cossack along with And Thatz Scotty on the first run past the grandstand.
The trio were clear on the rest of the field down the back stretch, and then Flying Cossack under jockey Matthew Cropp made the move, joined by another Hunterville-trained horse, Tim, with Brave Buccaneer settling into third.
Attrition took effectwith both Buccaneer and Cossack pulling up, as did two other horses, while Krase took the railing in the bunched-up field and seemed to be finishing strongly.
However, once clear of the final jump, jockey Mathew Gillies shook off the flu in his head and urged on Snodroptwinkletoes, who responded magnificently after being at the back with 700m left to take the outside and power home, with Carinya ranging up just outside.
The new racing programme made this the second time the steeplechase has been run in four months and the excitement generated has more than justified the event's continuation.
The win was very satisfying for horse owner Simon Harrison. Harrison took over the horse - which came from the showjumping ranks - from his aunt, with Myers coming on board to once again pull the best out of one of his charges.
