The season-ending Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat promised high drama, and it delivered in unexpected fashion. Instead of a battle between favourites, the $400,000 feature turned into a clean sweep for trainer Mark Walker.
Walker, celebrated for his work with Imperatriz, dominated the 4500-metre marathon with Leaderboard storming away to win by 25 lengths. The Mighty Spar and Prismatic filled the placings to complete a rare trifecta for the Kiwi stable.
The contest took a dramatic turn at the last fence when Noonday Gun, the hot $1.75 favourite, crashed out after looking ready to challenge. That left Leaderboard to race away for a career-defining success under Will Gordon.
Walker, delighted with the outcome, credited not just the horses but also the staff behind them.
“It was just great to see all three horses come back safe and the girls that strap them, Hayley with the winner, Emma with The Mighty Spar and Lisa with Prismatic, they just love these horses,” Walker said.
“They’ve sort of got a dual-purpose, too. They help out in the stables with the yearlings and they’ve got the yearlings going really well this year, so it’s a dual-purpose theme.”
Stern Idol, another key player, raced more conservatively under Steven Pateman but could not sustain his run, finishing fourth more than 26 lengths behind. He too was caught up in the incident with Noonday Gun at the third-last fence, which changed the complexion of the race.
Fortunately, Tom Ryan walked away unharmed and Noonday Gun galloped on after his fall.
For Gordon, it was an achievement he had long dreamed of.
“I can’t really believe it. I went out there with no pressure, just riding the race and riding the horse, and going down the back that last time I thought, ‘I’ve still got a bit of horse, so I might be in the finish’. He’s just a legend,” Gordon said.
“It’s great because this is one of the ones I’ve been missing off the mantelpiece.”
The Grand National marked the finest hour for Leaderboard, an Irish-bred 11-year-old who previously captured the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) in New Zealand. His earnings now stand at $861,388.
