Veteran hurdler Suliman (NZ) (Redwood) turned back the clock to his former glory days when he proved toughest in a four-horse war at the finish of the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton.
The twelve-year-old gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) under his belt along with a Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) victory on the flat but had mixed his form in recent times after resuming following a year off after a bleeding attack suffered during the 2023 edition of the Grand National Hurdles.
Suliman became trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal and owners the I See Red Syndicate’s only runner in the event, when their pre-post favourite Dictation was withdrawn during the week after suffering a minor injury following his Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) on the first day of the Carnival.
Jockey Matthew Gillies, who was to partner Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) in the contest until his withdrawal, set up a sharp pace on the Kevin Myers-trained Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous) from outsider Mr Fabulous (NZ) (Fabulous), Mr Fahrenheit (NZ) (Zed) and Suliman while the hot favourite Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry), second favourite Quid (NZ) (Rios) and Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) were back several lengths on the very testing Heavy 0 surface.
Things began to get serious with 1200m to run as Mr Fahrenheit dropped off when Mr Fabulous tackled Happy Star to turn the contest into a true staying test.
Rounding the turn Happy Star was still in front but Suliman and rider Hamish McNeill were hot in pursuit alongside Mr Fabulous while Quid and Berry The Cash chased gamely several lengths adrift.
Mr Fabulous threatened a massive upset when he hit the front after jumping the last, however Suliman closed resolutely to hit the lead with 100m to run before holding off a charging Quid by a nose with Happy Star and Mr Fabulous next over the line as less than a length covered the first four at the end of the gruelling 4200m.
Nelson was shaking his head a little with the final result after thinking Suliman may have been beaten in the shadows of the post.
“I was a little bit doubtful that he had got there although I got assured he had pretty quickly,” Nelson said.
“That was just great. The track being as bad as it was helped him, as when he won the Wellington Hurdles the track was horrible and he just kept going.
“Unfortunately, he missed a year last year but it is bloody lucky that he has come back.
“Any race win is good but a National is just wonderful.
“The syndicate who race this guy have been with me for twenty years. It was a shame for them when Dictation came out but this will have fixed that.”
An ecstatic McNeill was nearly lot for words as he described the finish where he dropped his whip shortly after clearing the last obstacle.
“I dropped my stick after the last and I was cursing myself when I saw them coming down the outside,” he said.
“I’m not too sure which way the camera angle goes here, so I’m a bit lost for words.
“As soon as the rain came (over the past 24 hours) I thought he and Quid would be the ones to beat.
“To do it for Paul is very special as we have had a close association.” Suliman has now won eleven of his 64 starts, with five of those over the hurdle fences, and now more than $342,000 in prizemoney.