Co-trainer Shaun Fannin combined with his progressive jumping talent Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) to collect a stunning victory in Saturday’s Presidential Homes Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham.
Fannin prepares the seven-year-old son of Atlante with his wife Hazel out of their Awapuni base and looks to have a prodigious talent over fences on his hands with Jesko making it two wins from two starts over the bigger fences after scoring over hurdles last season.
Successful in his chasing debut at Wanganui last month Fannin kept the gelding up to the mark with a win over 1600m at the Foxton trials in late May, while a schooling session at Trentham earlier this week provided valuable experience on the unique figure-eight Trentham steeplechase configuration.
Al’s Red Zed (NZ) (Zed) and rider Mathew Gillies set up a strong pace in the 4000m contest with Jesko and Fannin keeping him well within their sights as he trailed in second.
Proceedings got serious with 800m to run as Jesko joined Al’s Red Zed with the pair drawing clear of the rest of the field as they set down to fight out the finish.
Jesko took control rounding the home bend and with his pace of the flat he eased clear over the last fence to stroll away to a five length victory from a gallant Al’s Red Zed and the late closing Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) who grabbed third from stablemate Afterallthistime (Deep Field).
Neither horse nor rider would have blown out a match as they returned to the Trentham birdcage, before Fannin described how the race had panned out.
“I like him to be quiet but I was a little concerned before the start as he had his head on his chest when he is normally up on his toes,” Fannin said.
“He had a good school down here on Tuesday where Hazel rode him herself for the first time over the jumps here. She got a bit scared when she saw the size of the fences but we have a lot of faith in his jumping and it was the key with him having that look around here.
“He is quite nippy, not big and strong, but when he gets it wrong he can recover quickly and good jumpers can land running like he does.
“He is the sort of horse that when he hits the front he can pull up, so he may have been better today if he had something to chase all the way (to the finish) but he does stay well.
“He is the first horse I ever bought, which was a few years ago, so he has been a bit of a project but we think he has got the goods.
“We may look now at the Wellington Steeplechase in three weeks if he pulls up well and then make further plans from there.” From just 21 starts, Jesko has won six races and placed in a further six, winning over $113,440 in stakes for a large group of owners that include Fannin himself and recent additions the micro share syndicator RNZ Frac Club 6 Syndicate after Fannin purchased him for just $3,300 via gavelhouse.com in 2021.