Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman is likely to recommend Stern Idol head to the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat following his easy victory at Sandown.
Stern Idol ran away with the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday, his fourth win in a steeplechase this year.
Pateman said what weight Stern Idol received would likely determine whether Stern Idol contests the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 25.
Sent out the $1.22 betting app favourite, Stern Idol led throughout to defeat stablemate Rockstar Ronnie ($15) by 10 lengths with Tom Foolery ($10) the same margin off third.
Stern Idol has raced over fences in Australia on nine occasions, registering seven wins, with the only times he has been beaten was when retired from the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool and the Grand National Steeplechase, both times last year.
“Every time we ride him to get the trip, he’s gone no good,” Pateman said.
“Maybe he is worth a crack at the National and let him do his own work, but that will be up to the handicapper.
“If he got a realistic weight, he could run in it, and we could let him roll along and do his own thing.”
Sunday’s victory was Pateman’s seventh Crisp Steeplechase win of which six have been for Maher.
Stern Idol was ridden by William McCarthy in last year’s Crisp Steeplechase and Pateman said that win formed a major part of his homework for Sunday’s success.
“I had a few looks at Willie McCarthy riding him last year in the same race,” Pateman said.
“He made quite good use of him at the fences going up the hill, which is usually a no-no, but you have to do that with him because his jumping is so good.
“But it’s very nerve-racking coming down to the last, because it’s just silence.
“The only person who can mess it up is me, but once we were over the last, it was happy days.”
Declan Maher, standing in for his brother, said Stern Idol had had a really good month and that it was a pleasure to watch the gelding put on such a polished display.
He said the team may now need to think about heading internationally with the jumper.
“He’s carried more weight than last year, but possibly won more impressively and I’m all up for taking him overseas,” Maher said.
Maher was equally as impressed with Rockstar Ronnie as he prepares for the Grand National Steeplechase.
“Ciaron Maher wanted to give him a nice prep run here for the National and Tommy (Ryan) rode him well,” Maher said.
“He’ll be hard to beat in the National after that.”
