"Now that he has had the practice, I will target the Grand National Steeplechase but I will leave my options open on whether I bring him back to hurdling," Ellis Winsloe, the trainer and part-owner of Kidunot, said.
Kidunot was settled in third place in the Otago Steeplechase by Daniel Bothamley as Lindisfarne and The Matrix disputed the pace. Kidunot came to the fore at the second-last fence and won by two and three-quarter lengths.
Lindisfarne fought on well for second. His rider, Gary Walsh, felt he was not as well-suited on the firmer ground. The National is at Riccarton on August 14.
The win extended family records in the Otago Steeplechase. Winsloe's father, Ted, won it with Vamoose in 1963 when it was run at Wingatui. Bill Hazlett, father of Bill Hazlett, a part-owner of Kidunot, won the Otago Steeplechase as an owner or trainer with Bright Blue (1972), Tadpole (1964), Lisheen (1948), True Range (1944) and Graball (1935)..
George Strickland bounced back from a fall in the preceding race to win the restricted open hurdles on Texas. Texas was the only runner at the meeting for leading South Island trainer Michael Pitman, who could not recall his previous hurdles winner.
Cheap Date, given a ground-saving run by Stewart Moir, won the maiden hurdles in his first start as a jumper.
The Silent One was put down after he injured his right foreleg with a faulty leap in the hurdles.
Real Chance sustained abrasions when he fell in the hurdles.
