Riding High took out one of the biggest wins for the stable today at Sandown by taking out the time-honoured Ladbrokes Australian Steeplechase.
Starting at $5 and back over the jumps after a disappointing run at the Warrnambool Carnival where he had no luck, it was a clinical display of jumping by the seven-year-old son of Raise The Flag who was given a perfect steer by Clayton Douglas.
The $125,000 feature saw Riding High always comfortable in the run, with some strong competition in Bit of a Lad and Michelin making it an impressive win and even better display of jumping.
“It worked out perfectly, he lobbed in a lovely spot in the box seat, but I was a little bit worried because he was pretty keen again for me today and it took him about half the race to switch off, but once he did I was very comfortable where he was and I felt like I was the winner from a long way out,” said Douglas.
“He’s got a really big engine on him and he looks like a really nice horse for the future.”
Henry was trackside for the win and it was very satisfying result given the work that goes in to winning a feature jumps race in Melbourne.
“He did a terrific job this horse, I’m very happy to win a good feature race like the Australian Steeple, there are five or six feature steeplechase races and this one is right up there and a great one to tick off the list with a horse that is very progressive,” said Henry.
“The race panned out beautifully for him, we knew it was a slightly sub-standard Australian Steeple going into the race and the two other fancies in Michelin and Bit of A Lad both found trouble, and Clayton did a great job in keeping him covered up for most of the race.
“It’s pretty clear that he has a really good turn of foot for a jumper compared to other steeplechasers who are more dour and on top of the ground he can really use that turn of foot to his advantage.”
Riding High’s rating will now go up after today’s win and he will now be looking now at mostly running in feature steeple races, with the Thackery, Crisp and Mosstrooper all potentially on the table for him. He will head to St. Leonards for some rest and recuperation before another run on the flat and his next assignment over the jumps.
Whatever the future holds, today’s win by Riding High will be one enjoyed by all associated with him for a long time to come.