High Forty completed a winter of content for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton when he crowned a wonderful jumping season with a runaway Grand National Steeplechase victory at Riccarton.
The rugged southerner produced another dominant display to credit the Anderton family their fourth win on Saturday in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge-sponsored event.
Brian, who races High Forty with his wife Lorraine and their Australian friend Terry Burke, had previously won the race with Bymai (1984) and Lord Venture (1988), who was ridden by Shane.
After taking his son into partnership, he struck again with Noble Express (1994).“It’s just brilliant and I’m especially pleased for Shane, he’s been in it for the long haul and he puts in a lot of work,” Brian Anderton said.
High Forty had won his previous five starts over the big fences, including the Koral Steeplechase on the opening day of the National carnival.
“This horse has just amazed us this year with the way he has just kept on improving,” Anderton said.Sharing in the National glory was the Cambridge-based jockey Michael Mitchell, who has ridden High Forty six times for five wins and a runner-up finish.
“It’s a great feeling and it’s brilliant to have a South Island winner,” he said. “He’s a super horse to ride, he relaxes and jumps so well.”High Forty and Mitchell bided their time off the pace before improving near the rail across the top and then asserted their superiority.
“I attacked down the inside to find the short cuts and he ran away from them,” Mitchell said.High Forty was out by 12 lengths at the post from a brave Mr Mor, who took second off Hezanakilad close to the post. Get Flash was fourth ahead of last year’s winner Eric The Viking, who weakened out after making the early running.
