Jumps day at Sandown – 14 June 2008

Sandown’s two premier jumping events – the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and Australian Hurdle (3400m)- are the feature races this Saturday.

The steeple fences are higher and more difficult than the hurdles. These races are two of the oldest events on the Victorian racing calendar as both date back to 1882 and are having their 127th running. Both races carry prizemoney of $100,000 plus trophies and lead up to the VRC Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Steeplechase.

They are also both part of the JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship named after Australia’s greatest modern-day jumps trainer. The Australian Steeplechase has a field of 14 plus one emergency and the topweight Toulouse Lautrec looks hard to beat despite Jamraan having a weight advantage from their last start. Toulouse Lautrec is chasing his fourth straight win over the bigger fences.

The Australian Hurdle has a field of 11 and trainer Lyn Tolson is targeting her second Australian Hurdle with topweight Emgee Rex -she won as an owner when her daughter trained the 2000 winner Jarl. Crying Storm and Frenzilian both won their last starts over hurdles and are strong chances.

The Australian Hurdle has been a gateway to international success with 2004 winner Karasi, ridden by Brett Scott, winning the richest jumping race in the world, the $1.8million Nakayama Grand Jump (4250metres) in Japan three times (2005, 2006 and 2007).

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