Laing nears the peak with Steeple win

By Paul Pickering
ROBBIE Laing stopped short of calling Saturday’s Australian Steeplechase the finest moment of his career, but you get the feeling that moment might be coming.
The unconventional Clyde trainer watched comeback king Mazzacano claim an historic victory at the Sandown Hillside track, before flagging a potential trip to England for the Aintree Grand National – the world’s premier jumping race – next year.
For now though, Laing can bask in the glory of another incredible training feat, having nurtured Mazzacano back from a two-year injury lay-off to win over the gruelling 3900m journey.
The eight-year-old champion – and 2007 Australian Steeple winner – sat second last at the 800m mark on Saturday, before storming to the front and holding off a fast-finishing Brookton Mist by three quarters of a length.
Laing noted that it wasn’t the perfect race, but it was an astonishing first-up performance.
“He nearly faltered at the 1200m mark, and he might have got to the front a bit soon, but when he goes he picks them up so quickly,” he marvelled.
Laing produced another first-up winner with Sir Pentire – which hadn’t jumped for three years – in last month’s Warrnambool Grand Annual, and he said he had no doubts about Mazzacano’s prospects on Saturday.
“I was always confident that he would come back from the injury (three bowed tendons), so it was just a matter of being patient with him,” he explained.
“It’s fantastic when it comes off.”
Before considering an overseas campaign, Laing plans to run Mazzacano in the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on 16 August.
Meanwhile, Cranbourne father-and-daughter training duo Colin and Cindy Alderson lavished praise on their second-season jumper, Hooker Road, after its courageous win in the Australian Hurdle (3400m) on Saturday.
The diminutive seven-year-old stumbled over a hurdle at the 1400m mark, then dodged a riderless horse down the home straight to win by a neck from Kiwi gelding Yamanaura.
The determined run, which followed a brave second in the Galleywood at Warrnambool last month, left the Aldersons and jockey Brad McLean stunned.
“He just fought and fought,” Cindy beamed from the winners’ circle.
“His stamina is beyond doubt and I just think that’s what got him there today.”
McLean guided Hooker Road wide on the track when riderless favourite Pentiffic – having thrown jockey Craig Durden from the saddle at the ninth hurdle – veered into their path, and he was impressed by how the little gelding responded.
“He’s small, but he’s got a big heart, and that makes all the difference in these big races,” he declared.
The jumps racing fraternity also breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday, with no horses or jockeys injured in a banner day for the sport.