Two Wingatui horses at opposite ends of the jumping spectrum made names for themselves at Wingatui yesterday.
High Forty reasserted his class with a victory in the 3200m Otago Steeplechase, while Puddle Alley made a smart hurdling debut in race 2.
High Forty had 70kg to lug around, but jockey Alan Browne said the 8yr-old hit the line strongly despite carrying the top weight.
''That was the plan, just get him round, put him in the race when we needed to and try and make the weight not count which is what we did,'' Browne said.
Despite his 20 combined starts over hurdles and steeplechase courses prior to yesterday, High Forty still keeps his jockeys guessing.
''Old horses that have been doing it for a while tend to put in the odd cheeky one because they think they know what they are doing,'' Browne said.
Co-trainer Brian Anderton said High Forty's future plans were still being finalised, with the Grand National carnival in Christchurch not necessarily the only target.
''You talk about the National, but if you put your sights up higher, you talk about the Great Northern too, because that's in the spring now.''
Anderton is also cautious of High Forty picking up too much more weight with further starts.
Wingatui trainer Bruce Jenkins gave thanks to trackwork rider KC Walters after Puddle Alley's hurdles win on his debut over the sticks.
''KC Walters in recent times has been schooling him but he's just had major surgery on his shoulder and he's out for three months, so a lot of credit goes to him,'' Jenkins said.
Puddle Alley racked up 14 starts on the flat this season, and Jenkins was unsure prior to yesterday whether the gelding had peaked.
''In the last couple of weeks I thought I was maybe pushing my luck but he'll get a good rest-up now and hopefully, all going well, get him ready for up at Riccarton.''
• Timaru-born jockey Reese Jones looked to have secured his first South Island victory when Paw Patrol finished strongly to win a 1600m maiden.
However, Jones soon realised when he was about to weigh in that he was missing his lead bag, and he weighed in 0.9kg light. Paw Patrol was disqualified from first, and his trainer, Murray Hamilton, was fined $850 after admitting to leaving the lead bag off.
• Lady Lindauer gave Steve Tyler plenty of cause to open a bottle of Champagne after she flew home from near last to win the rating 65 2200m, a race sponsored by Tyler himself.
''I knew she was very well but up in grade from her maiden win, I thought she'd be pretty flat getting another one,'' Tyler said.
''With the way she won that, it looks like she could have another one in her.''
Tyler expects his team to thrive once he gets them grazing in grass paddocks.
