The 370km journey from Matamata to Woodville has proven to be a worthwhile commute for Jakama Krystal (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who collected her third jumps success at the course in Sunday’s $50,000 Jude Challies Property Brokers Woodville Tararua Steeplechase (4800m).
The Jakkalberry mare is now the winner of eight races overall from a 70-start career, including two wins over hurdles and four steeplechase successes.
She has contested eight jumps races at Woodville for three wins – a maiden hurdle over 3000m in June of 2023, a nine-length romp in a 4000m open steeplechase in late September last year, and Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Prince Turbo.
Jakama Krystal’s other Woodville visits have included a second in an open hurdle, a fifth in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), a sixth in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m), and an open steeplechase last year in which she lost rider Lemmy Douglas when she was right in contention with 600m to run.
Sunday’s success came in partnership with jockey Jordan Hart, who settled the Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained mare back in second-last as Izymydaad set the pace for most of the two and a half laps.
Whiskey Tango took over during the final run along the back straight, but his lead was short-lived as Hart allowed Jakama Krystal to roll forward and take command with 800m remaining.
Although Whiskey Tango was quickly beaten, another threat soon emerged in the form of Prince Turbo. He saved ground on Jakama Krystal’s inside coming around the home turn, and that pair approached the second-to-last fence together. Jakama Krystal jumped it better and took a narrow advantage, which she maintained all the way to the finish line to win by a length.
Whiskey Tango was the only other finisher, some 30 lengths behind the first pair, with Izymydaad and the champion jumper West Coast both well beaten a long way from home and retired from the race.
“That was another good win by Jakama Krystal,” Jessica Brosnan said. “She seems to really like it down here at Woodville. She’s won three times over jumps at this course now, and it probably should have been four – she lost her rider when she was going very well one time here as well.”
The TAB rates Jakama Krystal a $31 chance for the Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on September 21, but Brosnan rates her an unlikely starter in that $200,000 end-of-season showpiece.
“She might head out for a holiday soon,” she said. “I don’t think the Great New Zealand Steeplechase was ever really on the cards for her. I don’t think she’s an extreme stayer, she’s a little bit too quick. We’ll probably keep her ticking over and leave that option open, depending on how the field comes up, but it’s not really in our plans at this stage.”
Ben Foote could have a multi-faceted interest in that two-day jumps carnival at Te Aroha later in the month. As well as sponsoring the Great New Zealand Steeplechase, he part-owns the potential J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m) candidate The Bambino.
The Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal-trained gelding is finding form at the right time, adding Sunday’s $50,000 Jump Start Tararua Hurdles (3000m) to his success in another open hurdle over the same course and distance on August 17.
The Bambino was ridden to both of those victories by Emily Farr, who brought the eight-year-old with a well-timed finish from off the pace on Sunday to win comfortably by two and three-quarter lengths over Happy Star.
The TAB now rates The Bambino a $16 chance for the Great New Zealand Hurdle, which will be run on the opening day of the Te Aroha carnival on September 19.