'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 15
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 15
"Far Hills Race Meeting: A Championship Day with an Irish Flair"
Welcome to the Fifteenth edition of 'Jump.'
The early entries are out for the blockbuster championship day of racing at Far Hills, and we're in for quite the spectacle.
On paper the featured American Grand National looks to be a fascinating race. Irish trainers Gordon Elliott and John McConnell are sending over contenders to compete against U.S. stars like Snap Decision and Merry Maker.
Snap Decision's fans are eager to see if he can finally win the Grand National on his third attempt and secure the coveted Eclipse award for Steeplechaser of the Year. Jack Fisher, has geared Snaps's year towards this race, even taking the summer off to bring Snap back in the Lonesome Glory.
But victory won't come easy. Two formidable Irish contenders stand in his way.
Seddon has been a strategic acquisition for McConnell and the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate. He won four times last season, including securing McConnell's first Cheltenham Festival victory when he claimed the Magners Plate. He then added to his riches over hurdles at the Punchestown equivalent. Seddon was just denied by a neck at Galway last month, and his versatility is believed to be a significant asset for this big-race assignment.
Salvador Ziggy, trained by Elliott, poses another threat. After winning his first three starts over fences, the seven-year-old was runner-up off a mark of 150 in last month's Kerry National at Listowel. Elliott has announced that Salvador Ziggy will be part of his American raiding party.
Elliott said, "Salvador Ziggy is going for the American National. He ran a great race in the Kerry National and I’m delighted with him. I think the race will really suit"
Riders Up!
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 4 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
Virginia Fall Races Recap - Larry Smith, earns his 300th career victory when Eye of Gunfighter captured the $30,000 Magalen O. Bryant ratings handicap.
Genesee Valley Hunt Recap - Undaunted by rain, enthusiasts turn out.
Far Hills - McConnell hoping Seddon can continue run of Irish success in American Grand National.
Far Hills - Saturday Entries
“The ‘Jump newsletter’ is an absolute boon to me. Now domiciled in the UK, it keeps me updated on US jump racing. Thank you.” - Barbara Shaw (Facebook)
Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stable's Eye of Gunfighter captures the $30,000 Magalen O. Bryant ratings handicap.
By Tod Marks
Virginia Fall Recap
By Tod Marks
Despite overcast skies, there was no rain -- as promised -- for the 69th Virginia Fall Races at Middleburg.
There were plenty of highlights from the eight-race card, and we'll start off with a big shout out to trainer Larry Smith, who earned his 300th career victory when Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stable's Eye of Gunfighter captured the $30,000 Magalen O. Bryant ratings handicap.
With Gerard Galligan aboard, the six-year-old Pennsylvania-bred tracked leader Vincent Van Gogo in second the first time around the course, took charge on the final loop, and held off Bruton Street-US' South Mountain (Jamie Bargary) by 1 3/4 lengths. Gill Johnston's Ping Pong Champ (Graham Watters) was third.
Press Pause goes fast forward in maiden hurdle
Rolling Tide's Press Pause, a French-bred five-year-old, led from start to finish in the $30,000 Theodora A. Randolph Cup maiden hurdle at 2 1/8 miles
Trained by Doug Fout for owner Allie Lawaertz, Press Pause, under Harry Beswick broke swiftly in the nine-horse field, and extended his lead at every call, drawing off easily by 16 lengths at the wire. The win came in Press Pause's fifth career start.
Kiyomori comes from behind to break maiden in tight finish
The NY-bred four-year-old stalked pacesetter Finding Freedom, fell back to fifth, then launched his bid heading toward the final fence in the second race, the $30,000 Virginia Equine Alliance maiden hurdle.
Ridden by Harry Beswick for new trainer Todd Wyatt, Greg Hawkins' Kiyomori still trailed Michael Smith's Foxy Walk (Mikey Hamill), who raced close to the lead throughout, and South Branch Equine's I Can Only Imagine (Jamie Bargary), over the last hurdle. Turning into the stretch, Kiyomori narrowed the lead and closed with a flourish to get up at the wire by three-quarters of a length. Foxy Walk was second and I Can Only Imagine third.
“General" takes no prisoners in $20,000 maiden starter hurdle
Making his first start over jumps after 11 tries (and three victories) on the flat, Sycamore Run Farm's Union Gen. George made his move the second time around the course under Parker Hendriks, took the lead in a cavalry charge over the final fence, and was in an all-out drive to score by a neck over Maranto Manor's Auction Kingdom in the a race for runners who have previously run for a claiming tag of $20,000 or less. Kathy Neilson trained the winner, a five-year-old son on Union Rags.
Schoodic repels Cracker Factory in National Sporting Library & Museum Cup at Virginia Fall
Taking charge on the last loop and leading over the last fence, Dolly Fisher's 13-year-old son of Tiznow held off a gallant Cracker Factory to take the $50,000 timber stake by 1 3/4 lengths.
With the victory, Schoodic, ridden by Graham Watters for trainer Jack Fisher, went over the half-million-dollar mark in earnings in a remarkable 51-race career that began in 2012.
Sheppard-bred Lap of the Gods gives Hendriks his first training victory
On a week that a memorial was held in honor of training legend Jonathan Sheppard, a horse that the late Hall of Fame conditioner bred made his first trip to the winner's circle after three years and a dozen starts
Owned by Stewart Strawbridge, whose father, George, teamed up with Sheppard to campaign several champions and multiple stakes winners, Lap of the Gods was third at the final fence and made up ground in the stretch to get up in time to defeat Bon Nouvel Chasers Ya Boy Ya by a length in the $20,000 James P. McCormick maiden timber event.
The winner, a six-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Temple City, was trained and ridden by Parker Hendriks. It was Hendriks' first victory as a conditioner.
More photos at www.todmarks.photoshelter.com
Undaunted by rain, enthusiasts turn out for Genesee Valley Hunt Races
By Ben Beagle
GENESEO — Jockeys Conor Tierney and Freddie Proctor rode their horses side by side just inches apart as they raced down the final stretch towards the finish of The Oxbow, the concluding event of the Genesee Valley Hunt Races.
With each bob of their steed’s head the lead seemed to change until Tierney roared out a final “c’mon” to encourage his horse.
Still, it took several minutes before Tierney and his horse, Soviet Pimpernel, were declared the winner over Proctor and Irelands Call.
“It was a good race. I knew Freddie was on my inside. He was always there and he had the horse to beat,” Tierney said at the conclusion of the nine-horse race.
McConnell hoping Seddon can continue run of Irish success in American Grand National
By Brian O’Connor
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/2023/10/16/mcconnell-hoping-seddon-can-continue-run-of-irish-success-in-american-grand-national/
A pair of raiders from Ireland will try to keep one part of New Jersey very Irish this Saturday in the American Grand National. Both the John McConnell-trained Seddon and Gordon Elliott’s Salvador Ziggy will take their chance in the $250,000 race at the Far Hills course.
Hewick landed a memorable success in the Grade One contest a year ago, while Elliott won it in 2018 with Jury Duty. It will be a first attempt, however, for both McConnell and Seddon’s jockey Ben Harvey, who guided the horse to Cheltenham festival glory in March. Seddon followed that Magners Plate victory with a win over hurdles at the Punchestown festival and was runner up over flights at Galway last month.
“It was an exciting opportunity to have a go at and hopefully he comes home safe, and if he runs his race I will be happy,” said Co Meath-based McConnell. “He jumps very well whether it is hurdles and fences, so I don’t think that will be a problem and nice ground and the trip will be okay. I suppose it all depends on how he settles in, but we’re very hopeful.
“Ben rides him and he’s looking forward to it. Obviously he has never ridden over there before but he’s a good judge of pace and we wouldn’t have anyone else on him at this stage.”It will be a first attempt, however, for both McConnell and Seddon’s jockey Ben Harvey, who guided the horse to Cheltenham festival glory in March. Seddon followed that Magners Plate victory with a win over hurdles at the Punchestown festival and was runner up over flights at Galway last month.
“It was an exciting opportunity to have a go at and hopefully he comes home safe, and if he runs his race I will be happy,” said Co Meath-based McConnell. “He jumps very well whether it is hurdles and fences, so I don’t think that will be a problem and nice ground and the trip will be okay. I suppose it all depends on how he settles in, but we’re very hopeful.
“Ben rides him and he’s looking forward to it. Obviously he has never ridden over there before but he’s a good judge of pace and we wouldn’t have anyone else on him at this stage.”
Hewick’s success in the race provoked plenty of interest, with his trainer Shark Hanlon dedicating it to the late Jack de Bromhead who had lost his life a month previously.
McConnell added: “Shark paved the way and I’ve had a good chat with him about it. He has been very helpful and in fact everybody has been really helpful to us along the way, and I just want to get see him get on the track and get it over with now.”
Far Hills - Entries
By USA Steeplechase
There will not be a drop of Guinness left in New Jersey come Sunday morning. The Irish are coming!!!!
Notables:
Jockeys flying in for the meet:
Ben Harvey (IRE)
Danny Mullins (IRE)
Jack Kennedy (IRE)
Horses flying in for the meet:
Kyoto (IRE)
Calico (FR)
Say Goodbye (IRE)
Seddon (IRE)
Salvador Ziggy (IRE)
Trainers
Gordon Elliot (IRE)sending over 4 runners.
John McConnell (IRE) sends over 1.
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