Brilliant jumper Pentiffic gave Fran Houlahan, the daughter of legendary jumps trainer the late Jim Houlahan her first victory in Australia's most prestigious jumps race the $200,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Sandown.
Houlahan who trains
Pentiffic in partnership with Brian Johnstone is now likely to aim the four-year-old at the world's richest jumps race the Nakyama Grand Jump in Japan.
Fittingly Pentiffic, who became the first-horse to complete the Hiskens Steeple - Grand National Steeple double, shot clear at the top of the points table in the J J Houlahan Championship and the training pair to the top of the trainers table. On the same day as the J J Houlahan Hurdle was run in honour of her late father, the pair became the first father and daughter to train Australian Steeplechase winners.
Jim trained the 1997 winner Strasbourg.
“It's a tremendous thrill,” Houlahan said. “It's been such a special day. We had people wishing us a bad day on the way in to the course but for him (Pentiffic) to win like that is just terrific.”
The short-priced favourite was ridden confidently by
Trent Wells, who seetled the gelding a little worse than midfield throughout the 4530metre test, before unleashing a powerfuly burst from the 800 metres, proving far too strong for his rivals, winning by five lengths from Sir Pentire who chased home hard and Mt Townsend who battled on well after setting the pace a further 4.25 lengths away third.
Wells said he knew he had the race won when his main danger, Mazzacano was struggling.
“When I saw Mazzacano labouring like he was, I decided to grab the race by the balls,” Wells said. “I went forward maybe a little early but I had to go before Mazzacano got going.”
Mazzacano was retired from the race by his rider Gavin Bedggood prior to the last fence and his racing days may be numbered.
Wells now has his sights firmly set on Japan.
“I ordered my passport a couple of weeks ago and it looks like I'll need it more than ever now,” he said.