Former Winslow horseman Ciaron Maher joined the jumps training elite when outstanding prospect Ablaze scored an effortless eight-length win in the $315,000 Waterfront By Lyndoch Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) on Tuesday.
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Ablaze, aided by a perfect ride by Warrnambool-based jockey Shane Jackson, scored eased down from 2018 Annual winner Gold Medals with last year's winner Zed Em a gallant third.
Jackson waited until after the Tozer Road double the second time to make a move and after clearing the last jump looked home on Ablaze ($2 favourite), running down Zed Em (Aaron Lynch, $6.10) with Gold Medals (Clayton Douglas, $3.60) working home well.
It was Maher's fifth Grand Annual win, equalling the record of champion New Zealand jumps trainer John Wheeler.
Maher has now won with Ablaze, Regina Coeli (2015 and '17) and Al Garhood (2010 and '11).
"He's that good I thought he could have won the Brierly, I thought he could have won the Galleywood or I thought he could have won the annual," he said of Ablaze.
"I chose the Annual because he's a superior stayer."
Wheeler's win were with Foxboy (1997), The Sundance Kid (1998), Frankyoo Verymuch (2005), Real Tonic (2006) and Banna Strand (2013).
For Irish-born jockey Jackson, who moved to Warrnambool in August 2012, it was his first win in the Grand Annual after previously winning the 2018 Brierly Steeplechase on Gold Medals.
Maher said winning without a crowd was a bit surreal.
"Normally there is 12,000 people here yelling and mum would be sitting up there in the stands doing 15 laps of the rosary beads. I am sure she still is at home," he said.
"My family have always been really big supporters right from the start. It's unbelievable to win this race.
"It's one of the main races I look at on the racing calendar every year. I am just rapt to have a horse like that.
"To Rod Lyon and the owners. Rod was in a bar in New Zealand, on the South Island, and he tossed for the horse.
"It was $20 grand and if he lost the toss it was $40 grand and sure enough the wily Kiwis got him.
"He lost the toss ... but he's more than paid for himself now.
"It is great we are racing. Bit of a shame they can't be here to experience it."
Maher was delighted after the record-equalling win.
"It was fantastic. They rolled along at a brilliant tempo," he said.
"He is inexperienced so full credit to Shane Jackson.
"He got underneath a couple early but I thought the horse was clever enough to go in a race like this."
Maher was full of praise for Zed Em's third-placed effort with 73kgs.
"Zed Em was unbelievable, just an old warhorse. We were probably weighted to beat him and that's probably how it turned out," he said.
"My brother Dec and the team at Ballarat have done a fantastic job with this horse.
"He's basically nearly unbeaten since coming to Australia.
"To win the Jericho and come back at his third start over jumps to win a race like this over jumps is incredible.
"He works hard at it Shane. He's been really wanting to tick this one off.
"Phenomenal ride. That horse needed a brilliant ride to get him there because he was an inexperienced horse."
The trainer was pleased the eight-year-old gelding was able to show his best.
"It is a really proud moment," he said.
"He's probably smaller than all them but he's probably got a bigger heart.
"This horse has probably got the most flat ability of all of them.
"Jumping-wise the world is his oyster.
"He'll tick through the winter, we'll keep him warm and fed through the stable, so The National is probably a likely plan.
"He doesn't need a lot of runs and maybe he might come back for another crack at the Jericho.
"He seems to like the hills so we'll bring him back again."
Jackson described the win as brilliant.
"I've been waiting a little while to win one," he said.
"To have that one ticked off, it's the race I've always wanted to win. I know there's no crowds here but it doesn't matter. It's such a thrill.
"It is such a great training performance. Ciaron, Dave (Eustace), Declan (Maher), all the team in Ballarat, Paul that rides this fellow every day and comes in on his days off to ride him out.
"They've done a sensational job. There was a bit of doubt if he would've been right for the Annual, but I never doubted it. I knew they'd have him right.
"He's a good horse and he's the star of the next few years. It'll take a damn good one to come out and beat him."
Jackson said he needed to get in a rhythm.
"It's a long way around and they were getting a little itchy up in front but he just poked away, got in his rhythm and grew with confidence the further he went," he said.
"I won the Grand National Hurdle, that was a big thrill. I won some nice races back home, but this is the pinnacle (the Grand Annual). This is the best."
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