Former elite hurdler Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) confirmed his arrival among steeplechasing’s top echelon with a supreme performance in the $75,000 Howden Insurance Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) at Te Aroha on Sunday.
The Niagara gelding has now had 48 starts for 15 wins, six placings and $487,843 in stakes. Seven of those wins have come over hurdles, including the 2022 Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3200m), the 2023 Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), the 2023 Waikato Hurdle (3200m) and two editions of the Wellington Hurdles (3400m).
Hawke’s Bay trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal have switched Nedwin to the bigger fences this winter, and he was a three-length winner on debut at Te Rapa in May before finishing third in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m), fourth in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) and a last-start third in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m).
Sunday’s extremely testing Heavy10 track held no fears for the tough 11-year-old, who has recorded 12 of his wins in those gruelling winter conditions. While others began to fade in the final 1000m of Sunday’s race, Nedwin’s wet-track excellence and formidable stamina shone through.
The lightly raced up-and-comer Fourty Eight was sent out as a $3.20 favourite and led for most of the race, but Nedwin and his rider Hamish McNeill pressed forward out of the pack and were breathing down his neck just before the home turn.
Nedwin took command in the straight and forged clear, pulling away to win by three and a half lengths. Last-start Grand National Steeplechase winner Captains Run finished strongly into second, with a tiring Fourty Eight a gallant third.
“It’s exciting to see him doing this in steeplechases now,” McDougal said. “I think the trip down south for the Grand National Steeplechase helped him. He’s really mastered his craft now, so it’s very exciting.”
Nedwin is now rated a $4.20 third favourite for the $200,000 Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on September 21. Jesko remains the favourite at $2.60, with Captains Run on the second line at $3.80 after Sunday’s eye-catching finish.
McDougal, who represented the stable on course at Te Aroha while Nelson recuperates from recent knee surgery, suggested a tilt at the Great New Zealand Steeplechase is likely for Nedwin.
“I’ll have to talk to the big boss at home, but I imagine we’ll be back here for that race in three weeks’ time,” McDougal said. “I think you’ll see him (Nelson) here for that meeting too.”
McNeill has no doubt that Nedwin can be among the key chances again for the New Zealand jumps season’s grand finale.
“He’s a top animal and I’m looking forward to riding him again in three weeks,” the expat Scottish jockey said. “He’ll improve off this run. He was having a good blow after the race today. I think I can ride him the same way again, and the 6200m distance will be right up his alley.
“He revelled in the mud today. He’s won on very deep Wellington tracks more than once, so I was very confident coming into today.
“Credit to Corinna, who instilled a lot of confidence in me. She’s a real unsung hero. She and Paul are stalwarts of the game and it’s always good to knock off big races for them.
“My parents are here today. My dad will probably start crying if I talk about him too much – he’s an emotional man like me and wears his heart on his sleeve.”