Three-time Tommy Corrigan Medallist Steve Pateman enjoyed a day to remember at Bendigo on Sunday when he made a clean sweep of three jumping events on Mosstrooper Steeplechase Day.
The nation's premier rider combined with untapped three-year-old Marked Danger and exciting stablemates Capecover and Kerdem, much to the delight of punters who sent the trio out as favourites.
Pateman was at his patient best with the Patrick Payne-trained Kerdem who sat rearward for much of the $60,000 AJRA Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3600m), before unleashing a withering burst at the 1000-metre mark to join the leaders.
The $2.05 favourite jumped the final obstacle on terms with Grizz ($4.40) before forging clear to claim a 2.8-length victory over the fast finishing Plumtastic ($8.50) with Grizz just behind in third.
Pateman had an anxious moment 100 metres from home when he had to check off the riderless Petushki, but he kept his cool to guide Kerdem to a hat-trick of jumps wins at his first attempt over the bigger fences.
“He's clearly a better flat horse (than his rivals),” Pateman said of the dual Adelaide Cup runner-up.
“He never wants to go early, he wants to lob around the back and keep his eye on things.....he covered a lot of ground, but he whipped around them easily and then was reliable over the last two (fences).
“He's a pleasure to ride, he watches his fences and he keeps himself out of trouble.”
After his triumph Kerdem now looms as the biggest danger to Vindicating when he chases a $100,000 bonus in the $200,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Betfair Park on 28 August.
It won't be the only feature jumps race on the agenda this season for the Payne stable, with the Plumpton trainer unearthing a future jumping star in the form of 2010 Adelaide Cup winner Capecover.
The eight-year-old made it two wins from as many appearances over the jumps when he won the $30,000 Bendigo Toyota Open Hurdle (3200m) under a stranglehold by eight lengths.
The $1.40 favourite pulled his way to the lead mid-race and was never in danger defeating early leaders Al Karam ($7) and Deltona ($5.50) with the third placegetter some 17 lengths from the winner.
“He's an exciting horse, but he's just got to come back (underneath you) a bit,” Pateman said in reference to his desire to race keenly.
“He just thrives on the jumping,” he added. “It's a new lease of life for him and it may even reinvent his flat career so it's exciting.”
The $200,000 Grand National Hurdle (4000m) at Betfair Park on 14 August is the goal this season for Capecover, provided he continues to please Payne with his progression.
Pateman's first winner came aboard the Robert Smerdon-trained Marked Danger ($1.55) who sat behind the leaders before charging away to win the $15,000 Hotel Shamrock Bendigo Maiden Hurdle (3200m) at his second jumps start.
Second across the line, 2.8 lengths from the winner, was four-year-old Auzonnet ($101) who finished well at his jumping debut with third-placed Monte Cassino ($10) registering his first placing in four starts over the obstacles.
“They went hard and he was keen and he had to do the chasing so he did a really good job,” Pateman said of the winner, who remarkably is a son of Golden Slipper winner Danzero.
Smerdon said Marked Danger will be given time to mature over the jumps before stepping up to the big league next season.
