Webb a Tad too good

CRANBOURNE trainer Mark Webb predicted big things for his talented jumper Tadakatsu after it finished all over its opposition to win the $101,500 Australian Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
Other highlights of a big day at the Hillside track included the win of Laughing In Dubai in the second jumping feature, the Australian Steeplechase, and a convincing victory to another jumper in Dawson Road over the flat course.
Tadakatsu, ridden superbly by Willy Harnett, held off Mick Kent’s dour galloper Vazoom, also prepared at Cranbourne, to score by a short neck, with Gunza Magilla half a length away in third place.
Webb said the bargain-priced jumper – connections paid $8000 for him 18 months ago – would be set for the rich metropolitan jumps races over the next few weeks, possibly culminating with a crack at the A.V. Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley.
The six-year-old gelding has won $127,000 over the jumps since beginning his career over the obstacles more than a year ago.
“I thought he was a great chance and I couldn’t believe the odds they put up on him,” Webb said.
“If you took a line through his form around Sweet Shani in the Lachal (Hurdle), he had to be among the best chances.”
Webb said that his horse had come through Saturday’s race well and would head to the Grand National Hurdle at Flemington in two weeks.
If he performs well at Flemington Webb said that he would likely switch to the steeples in the Hiskens, and added that the journey may not stop there, with the dream of a trip to compete in Japan’s Nakayama Grand Jump next year a possibility.
“We’d all love to get an invitation to Japan, but we’ll take it one step at a time,” he said.
“I think my horse is in the top four or five jumpers in the state and he proved that on the weekend.”
Second-placed Vazoom was having his third run back from a long spell on Saturday and his first over hurdles.
Another Cranbourne mentor, John Leek, said he, too, would aim his star jumper Dawson Road at the rich Nakayama Grand Jump next April after it cantered away to win the program’s 2400-metre flat race, ridden by leading jockey Craig Williams.
Leek said afterwards that the tough stayer was potentially the best prospect he had trained and signalled that he would also target the A.V. Hiskens Steeplechase with the aim of gaining an invitation to Japan next year.
Officer-based jumps master trainer Eric Musgrove has taken out the last two $1.8 million Nakayama Grand Jumps with his iron horse Karasi and Leek was keen to add his and wife and champion jockey Andrea’s name to the Asian honour role.
Leek’s other runner on Saturday’s program, Australian Steeplechase favourite Colaton, finished fourth in the feature event.
Laughing In Dubai led most of the way to score a strong win in the $101,500 race, with Chris Hyland’s Personal Drum running second and Robbie Laing’s Father Patrick third.