TOP jumps trainer Eric Musgrove has predicted Thubiaan will be a key force in feature jumps races next season following his win in the $50,000 Rookie Jumpers series final at Warrnambool yesterday.
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Thubiaan staged a mini-war with Hissing Sid in the middle stages of the 3600-metre hurdle before defeating the dual Warrnambool Cup winner by more than a length, with No Song No Supper in third place.
Musgrove said Thubiaan would head to the spelling paddock within the next few days.
“He’s done a really good job, this horse in his first jumps campaign. He deserves a good break,” Musgrove said.
“I’ll get Thubiaan ready for races like the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool’s May carnival next year.
“I’ve got to thank Chris Waller. He sent the horse down to me from Sydney.
“Chris was confident Thubiaan would develop into a top jumper and I reckon he’s right.”
Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde was pleased with Hissing Sid’s return to form to run second.
“It was a great effort. We’ve been behind the eight ball the whole preparation but we thought we had him pretty right for today,” Wilde said.
“We’ll send him around in a 120hurdle at Warrnambool on September 8 for his next jumps start.”
Two years of hard work paid dividends for the Pat Hyland-trained Announced to salute in a $20,000 maiden hurdle.
Jumps jockey Trent Wells said Announced had recovered from a nearside front tendon injury to win the 3200-metre race.
“It’s been a great training effort by Pat and his staff to get the horse to win a jumps race. He was unlucky in one of his starts at Hamilton,” Wells said.
Ciaron Maher said Top Hats may have a bright jumping future following his win over Angelology and It’s Electrifying in a maiden hurdle.
Two Hats has only been in Maher’s stable for this preparation but the talented trainer said he thought the four-year-old would make the grade as a jumper.
“He’s got plenty of scope to be a top jumper,” Maher said.
“Two Hats is stoutly bred. He’ll stay all day. I reckon we might give him a break now and set him for a few of the good jumps races next season.”
Universal Sound repaid his connections for their perserverance when he won a $20,000 open steeplechase.
The Simon Ryan-trained jumper defeated Old Bill by nearly five lengths in the 3450-metre race with Sanctuary five lengths away third. Ryan said Universal Sound is an honest performer over the jumps.
“It’s great to have a win with the horse for the Gavin family from Toolong. They are really keen racing fans and love jumps racing,” Ryan said.