Winslow export Ciaron Maher claimed his fourth 3YB FM Scott Stewart Brierly Steeplechase twice on the same day. First on the track and later in the stewards room.
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Maher's young jumper Bit Of A Lad crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of 2018 winner, the Symon Wilde-trained Gold Medals.
But Gold Medals' jockey Clayton Douglas lodged a protest against the result, arguing interference from the winner twice, once approaching the second last jump at the 800-metre mark and again before the last, 450 metres from the line.
"I believe I should have won the race," Douglas told stewards.
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Bit Of A Lad's jockey Steven Pateman argued he was hampered by the race leader, the Declan Maher-trained Newbury, "just as much" as Gold Medals.
Chief steward James Hitchcock acknowledged Gold Medals was "tightened" for room but did not believe it was sufficient to impact the result and dismissed the protest.
Maher was delighted with the result, his fourth Brierly victory. His stable favourite Al Garhood kick-started his run in major jumps races at the carnival with Brierly victories in 2008, '09 before Palmero won in 2014. "Unbelievable," the 37-year-old said.
"Love it. There is nothing like winning a group one but these steeplechases are the group ones of jumps racing.
"Everyone wants to win them, you build yourself up for them and the owners get behind it. The owners have been in this horse for X-amount of years, they were winning a race or maybe two on the flat, now they have won two features, a hurdle and a steeple, it's a credit to them and credit to the industry.
"To win here at Warrnambool is what it's all about. I love coming home."
Maher said he was excited when Bit Of A Lad and Pateman crossed the line.
"He wasn't favourite but we knew he had the ability, he's a quality jumper. His first steeple start he finished 5th and he had a reason for that, he was jumped on.
Maher only picked up the horse after Darren Weir was disqualified from training earlier this year and urged the owners to consider a step up from hurdles to the bigger fences. He identified the Brierly as the right race for the five-year-old.
He heaped praise on his younger brother Declan, a trainer in his own right, who heads up Maher's new Ballarat operation where Bit Of A Lad is based.
He said the staff who had crossed from Weir to him had played an important role in the preparation.
"Credit to them and credit to my brother who has had to step up," he said.
The Brierly was Maher's second win of the day, having won a maiden hurdle earlier with Euroman.
Worth the wait
Jockey Steven Pateman revealed after the race that he had dropped five kilograms to make the weight. While Bit Of A Lad was given 65.5kg for the race, Pateman rode at 66kg.
The 36-year-old said he had wasted and restricted his food intake for the past week.
He said the tough preparation had been worth it, with the win his fourth in the feature jumps race.
"It's really special," he said.
Maher was full of praise for Pateman, saying he did well to get down to the weight.
"It was a brilliant ride by Stevie Pateman, that was one of the best I've seen," he said.
"At least he had one (a ride) good enough to waste for."
Maher said Bit Of A Lad would enjoy a session in Lady Bay on Wednesday morning before a decision was made on whether he would back up in Thursday's Grand Annual Steeplechase.
The vanquished
Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde was devastated Gold Medals had narrowly missed out on claiming back-to-back Brierlys.
He said Gold Medals had been brave in defeat.
He thought his runner should have won.
During the protest hearing, he told stewards the interference had been significance. "He (Pateman) has nearly put him over the fence, that's improper riding," Wilde said.
"That interference has cost him three lengths."
Jockey Clayton Douglas said Gold Medals, carrying 68.5 kilograms, had lost momentum going to the last jump after A Bit Of A Lad had tightened him for room.
Wilde said he would assess Gold Medals on Wednesday before deciding if he would chase consecutive Grand Annual wins on Thursday.
The Simon Ryan-trained Dormello Mo was third, making it a trifecta for the locals.
The Fallout
Jockey Steven Pateman was suspended for 10 jumps races after two indiscretions, including careless riding, during the Brierly.
Stewards said he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Gold Medals, who was checked and lost his rightful running after clearing the second-last fence.
He was also suspended for using his whip in consecutive strides on eight occasions over the final 100 metres. The suspension starts midnight Thursday until May 19.
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