Evergreen kiwi jumper Sea King proved a class above his rivals when he took out the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle, one of two feature jumping events at Bendigo on Sunday.

The former Australian Grand National Hurdle winner had been expected to defend his Aus$100,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase title, a race he had won for the past two years. A technicality in regard to his eligibility for the event scuppered those plans and he started in the hurdle event instead.

In the hands of rider Brad McLean the Shinko King ten-year-old put any disappointment about missing the steeplechase start behind him as he produced an impeccable display to lump 70 kilograms to a one and a half-length victory.

McLean stalked the leaders throughout before issuing his challenge with two fences to clear in the 3600 metre contest. Sea King put his nose in front at the last obstacle and drew out in the run home to score comfortably from Two Hats and Hornet’s Nest.

The win took Sea King’s earnings to just shy of the $800,000 mark from his 66 career starts.