Ellerslie Results (Race 5)

Saturday, 5th September 2015

5
14:10
(local)

Schweppes Great Northern Hrdl

WT: 65kg Type: HDLE
NZD $125,000
4190m TURF HEAVY
5
14:10
(local)
NZD $125,000
4190m HEAVY

Schweppes Great Northern Hrdl

WT: 65kg Type: HDLE

The winner and runner up from last year in the Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) provided the victor and third finisher today albeit in different order. Gagarin after sitting back swept up and took the lead across the top to win well having being third in it last year. It was the seventh win for the Kevin Myers prepared 7yo gelding and his stablemate Mahanadi formed the quinella. Mahanadi was brave after racing second throughout and kept giving for his rider the run home. The victor last year Wee Biskit ran on gamely from the back for third but never really looked a winning hope at any stage. Superturf got home solidly from the back and just missed third money but it showed the finish was in the majority for those ridden cold. This added more merit to the runner up effort by Mahanadi. The gap between fourth and fifth was sixteen lengths showing just how tired the majority were in the race with the Ellerslie track a bottomless holding bog. There is no reason why Gagarin and Wee Biskit for that matter cannot be back next year for this same race both currently being 7yo jumpers with a lot more to come.