2008 Hiskens Steeplechase

The feature event at Moonee Valley on Saturday – the $200,000 Dominant Hiskens Steeplechase over 3712metres – is shaping as one of the strongest and most open jumps races in many years.

There is a capacity field of 13 starters plus one emergency, which is the largest field for the event since 2001. They are all seasoned jumpers, from the youngest Frenzilian, South Australia’s lone runner, who is five (but will be six before the week is out), to the ten-year-old Personal Drum who won this race in 2006.

There are two other past winners in the race – Spanish Symbol who won last year, and Sissano who won in 2005. The early favourite is Some Are Bent who also started favourite last year when he came third behind Spanish Symbol.

Second favourite is Derringer who has completed three wins in a row with the last one being the Grand National Hurdle at only his second hurdle start. Other starters include Grand Annual and Grand National Steeple winner Ginolad, Crisp Steeple victor Geeorb and Macdonald Steeple winner Shrogginet.

Tasmanian trainer Michael Trinder will be aiming for a record-equalling fifth win in the race with Nuvolari which ran an eye-catching third in the Dominant MacDonald Steeplechase last start at Moonee Valley. Trinder has won previously with Monsist (1985), Tengah Hari (1986), Red Cavalier (1990) and Misty Weather (2003). Nuvolari is an eight-year-old with an outstanding record over the jumps having won seven from 14 starts, and will be ridden by Adam Trinder (Michaels’s son).

The late Jim Houlahan holds the training record of five Hiskens winners.

by Jo Jackson

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