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Legendary jumper West Coast defends Great Northern crown

Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)Letham Stud-bred West Coast further cemented his status as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever steeplechasers with a stirring defence of his title in the $150,000 Ben & Ryan Foote Racing Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) at Te Rapa on Sunday.Both of West Coast’s Great Northern triumphs have come under gruelling 73kg topweights, and they sit proudly on his mantelpiece alongside his unprecedented three straight wi...

Unusual Legacy takes big step towards Metropolitan

Next month’s Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) is looming large on the horizon for Unusual Legacy, who enhanced his growing reputation with an outstanding last-to-first performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Chandon Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill.The Benchmark 88 handicap was the fifth win from only an eight-start career for Unusual Legacy, who has earned A$252,945. Trainer Chris Waller shares ownership with his wife Stephanie, along with long-term stable clients the Muollo family.Unusual Legacy...

High-flying pair on Great Northern pursuit

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskMark Oulaghan’s star jumpers West Coast and Berry The Cash were unstoppable in last month’s Grand National contests, and on Sunday, they are heavily-favoured to add the Great Northern equivalents to their formidable records.Letham Stud bred West Coast has largely been the benchmark for steeplechasers in New Zealand for the past two seasons, winning a multitude of prestige crowns, including three-straight editions of the Grand Nat...

West Coast leaving legacy for underrated sire

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskWest Coast may not have any black-type against his name, but he is proving to be one of best performers for his ill-fated sire Mettre En Jeu.On Saturday, West Coast etched his name into the history books when recording his third consecutive Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) victory at Riccarton Park for trainer Mark Oulaghan.It was the nine-year-old gelding’s 11th career victory, all over fences, and brought his earnings to just shy of $500,000.Br...

West Coast takes his third Grand National Steeplechase

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskSensational steeplechaser West Coast etched his name amongst the greats of the New Zealand jumping scene when he collected his third win in a row in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m).The Letham Stud-bred son of Mettre En Jeu became only the second horse to win the race three times since itsfirst running in 1875, and the first to do it consecutive years at the 149th ...

West Coast sets scene for Grand National showdown

Outstanding steeplechaser West Coast laid down the gauntlet to fellow superstar jumper The Cossack for supremacy in next weekend’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in emphatic fashion at Riccarton on Saturday.Shooting for his second win in three attempts at the traditional lead-up event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the nine-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu never looked like he got out of third gear as he ambled around be...

West Coast completes iconic double with Northern Steeples victory

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskThe Letham Stud-bred West Coast cemented himself at the top of the steeplechasing ranks at Te Rapa on Sunday, the top-class jumper claiming the elusive National/Northern double when taking out the Ben and Ryan Foote Racing Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m).In a contest that was pitted as a match-race between two champions in Mark Oulaghan’s West Coast and Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s The Cossack, the favourites both carrying a tough 73kg eye...

West Coast takes testing Trentham feature

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskA perfectly judged ride by Shaun Fannin helped pave the way for West Coast (Mettre En Jeu x Testament) to add another feature steeplechasing event to his blossoming career record when the pair took out the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham.In an exciting display of jumping set up by tearaway pacemaker Izymydaad, Fannin and second favourite West Coast ($2.50) sat back in the field of six as they covered all the moves of topweight...

West Coast all class in Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase victory

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskRace favourite West Coast displayed all of his undoubted class over the fences when he made the AHD-Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) a one-horse affair in the final stages, winning under a hold by more than 16 lengths.Rider Shaun Fannin bided his time in mid-field throughout as local runner Shackleton’s Edge set up the pace with stablemate Argyll, Izymydaad and Donardo in close attendance.Fannin commenced his move on the Mark...

Tried horse offerings fuel Unusual Suspect success

Whanganui-based stallion Unusual Suspect has proved a more than useful sire. Standing at the Auret family’s Letham Stud, the now 19-year-old stallion has produced a host of well-credentialed horses, including the stakes winner Unusual Countess and multiple Melbourne metropolitan winners So Unusual and Unusual Culture. The latter, who was a debut winner for Fraser Auret, has now won four of her past six outings for the in-form Ciaron Maher ...

Winning Culture continues

Unusual Culture continued her march through the grades after the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare scored her fourth win of the preparation at Flemington on Saturday when taking out the David Bourke (1620m).The Kiwi import was sent out an $8 chance after drawing out (9) but ended up in a perfect one-one spot before letting down powerfully in the straight, holding off favourite Brayden Star ($3) to prevail by three-quarters of a length.Stable representative Jack Turnbull was delighted w...

Unusual Culture continues hot form

Sandown has brought the very best out of New Zealand-bred mare Unusual Culture this autumn, and that formula proved to be a winner again in Saturday’s JRA Handicap (1600m) on the Hillside track.The A$130,000 race was the third win from the last four starts for the four-year-old mare, with all of those victories coming at Sandown on March 1, April 10 and on Saturday.Apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel has been in the saddle for those two most recent appearances, and she positioned Unusual Culture i...

Four in a row for So Unusual

There are bigger and better things in store for up-and-coming stayer So Unusual, who scored a remarkable come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$150,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Tenders Open (2500m) at Flemington.It was the fourth win in a row for the New Zealand-bred gelding, who has now had a total of eight starts for five wins, two placings and A$276,505 in stakes.The four-year-old jumped from the inside gate on Saturday and enjoyed a comfortable midfield run under Dean Holland, but he appeare...

Cup Dream alive for So Unusual

Tony and Calvin McEvoy have a promising stayer on their hands in the form of Kiwi import So Unusual who proved too strong in the Premier Signs Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday. The son of Unusual Suspect was a winner at Woodville for Fraser Auret in April last year and has made a good impression from his five starts from his new quarters, winning his past three for the McEvoy team. Sent out the $3.60 favourite, So Unusual got back worse than midfield in a solidly run race, with ...

Great January for Unusual Suspect

27/01/2023Jackjack (AUS) 2016 (G. by Unusual Suspect-Miss Cha Ching)           1st TTC Cup Barrier Draw at Sporties P., A$25000 1600m earning A$1562526/01/2023Master at Arms (NZ) 2018 (G. by Unusual Suspect-Sent to Sea)       1st Murray Bridge RC Long's Sand & Metal Maiden P., A$22000 1000m earning A$1082522/01/2023Mariposa (AUS) 2017 (F. by Unusual Suspect-Love You)       4th TRC La...

Homebred colt sells well at Karaka

We were delighted to sell our homebred Per Incanto x Petite en Jeu colt to the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Karaka 2023.Hong Kong Jockey Club buying agent Craig Rounsefell commented:“Per Incanto is high on the hit list of sires we’re looking to target,” Rounsefell said.“We’re always looking in this sale, in particular, where there’s been some really nice ones. The two we’ve purchased we’re absolutely delighted with. They are the first two horses we’ve bid on during the sale and we�...

So Unusual scores at Sandown

Lightly-tried four-year-old So Unusual continued his roll good form when successful in the Shaun Morris Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday, advancing his career record to three wins from six starts.The son of Unusual Suspect was a winner at Woodville for Fraser Auret in April last year and has made a good impression with two wins from four starts from his new quarters with Tony and Calvin McEvoy.The gelding was roared home by a vocal group of owners, with jockey Dean Holland sporting the si...

Walk in the Park for West Coast

Classy jumper West Coast looked like he was out for a Sunday stroll in the park as he ambled his way to victory in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 147th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton. Sent to the lead from barrier rise by rider Shaun Fannin, the Letham Stud-bred seven-year-old gelding set a leisurely pace throughout, virtually walking the first lap before increasing the tempo starting the final round of the Riccarton circuit. With 1000m to run it looked like West C...

Runaway Australian double for Unusual Suspect

Letham Stud-based sire Unusual Suspect was represented by two runaway winners in Queensland on Saturday.  Our Spider was the super impressive winner of the Farm Protectors Benchmark 60 Handicap (1805m) under the lights at Toowoomba.  Sent out the $2.40 favourite, Our Spider settled back in the field from barrier six, a long way off the leaders before weaving his way through the field from the 600m to run away an all too easy four-length victory.  The six-year-old gelding was ridde...

West Coast takes first day jumping honours at Riccarton

Promising steeplechaser West Coast looks to have attained the favourite’s tag for next Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 147th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) with a dashing display to take out the traditional lead-up event at Riccarton on Saturday. Facing just three rivals in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the Mark Oulaghan-trained seven-year-old put in a proficient display in the hands of Shaun Fannin to defeat last start Te Rapa winner Carn...

Unusual Culture showing promise in Australia

Former Kiwi filly Unusual Culture is showing plenty of promise in Australia for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.The daughter of Unusual Suspect ran third at Caulfield over 1200m in her Australian debut last month and she will return to the Melbourne track on Saturday to run over 1400m.While her trainers are expecting a bold run over further ground, they believe she is still one run away from hitting peak fitness.“We like her, I think she is one to follow,” Eustace told RacingHQ....

Easter double for Unusual Suspect

Letham Stud's Unusual Suspect was credited with two winners over the Easter weekend.First on the board was Fandazzle ( x Fantastic Carat), winner at Geraldton over 1627m on Saturday. It was the third career win for the five-year-old mare who was second up this preparation after finishing fifth at the same track last month.On Monday So Unusual (x Highland Rose) cleared maiden ranks at just his second start. The three-year-old gelding finished third on debut at Waverley earlier this month and stor...

Auret savouring grassroots racing adventure

Fraser Auret is loving his West Coast adventure.The Marton trainer has 16 horses campaigning on the coast circuit, which began with racing at Greymouth on Monday, continued with the Reefton meeting on Wednesday and culminates with Saturday’s Kumara fixture.But it’s not just a big team of horses Auret is travelling with. He is part of a 16-strong touring party along with his wife and three children, extended family, staff and owners.“You watch the West Coast races every year and it’s a tr...

Leviathan Australian owner secures smart filly

The curtain is likely to come down on Unusual Culture’s (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) brief New Zealand career when she takes on a competitive age group line-up in the three-year-old feature at Otaki on Thursday.Off the back of a lead-up trial placing, the Fraser Auret-trained filly overcame a slow start to score effortlessly when she made her debut on the course earlier this month.That performance saw prominent owner Ozzie Kheir come calling and she will carry his colours in the Gr.3 Lucia...

Auspicious day for Auret family

Several days have passed since recording a black-type double at Riccarton, but Nigel Auret is still lost for words when asked about the achievement. His son, Fraser, had travelled south from his Marton base with Unusual Countess (Unusual Suspect x Countessofdelgatie) and Streak of Power (Power x Stracile) and duly delivered with the pair winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Listed Easter Stakes (1400m) respectively.  “It was just a fantastic day, that is all I can say,” Nigel...