This Prestige Steeplechase (4900m) saw Kevin Myers trained and Shaun Fanin ridden domination continue in jumps racing throughout New Zealand this year in particular. Kick Back was ridden quietly and only picked a path through the field on top of the hill the last time and coming down it to reach sixth with two fences to negotiate. The 8yo mare then loomed a dangerous fourth at the final fence before digging deepest to take the lead with 50m to go and win by a head in 6:05.83. It was her tenth win in thirty-eighth starts and showed she can have a crack at the 6400m of the Great Northern Steeplechase in two weeks if her connections desire. The runner up Jack Romanov ran a ripper considering he carried 5kg more than the winner and he is peaking perfectly for his Great Northern Steeplechase defence of last year, which he won by sixteen lengths. Crash Bandicoot has come a long way this year and his third showed he will not be out of his depth in the big show and three times over the hill in two weeks. He is a stablemate of the winner showing the Myers leaping arsenal is the most formidable jumping army in the land. Nells Belle ran a blinder after taking the lead 2400m from home, as she had won her maiden steeplechase prior to today, so she will add some colour to whatever race she runs in next. Wise Men Say once again was grinding on here like he is waiting for the four miles in two weeks here. Amanood Lad may have been caught up with by father time as the 12yo stopped badly after being second mostly then fourth with two fences to clear. Great Northern time is Amanood Lad time so never write off a proven performer that was third in the big race last year and won it the year before but his last two outings have seen him buckle. The rest were beaten out of sight and have no realistic chance to get the Great Northern Steeplechase trip so once again a small field is very likely. Stagehand lost his rider in this with just over a mile to go so he might be the only one that could handle the 6400m in two weeks. It was a very old field of jumpers today and many of the usual suspects so the depth is not there and has not been for quite a while. Jack Romanov will be favourite to defend his crown and Kevin Myers is likely the only yard that can deny him the coronation.