There is a tough sense of déjà vu for Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal in Christchurch this week, with Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) being ruled out of Saturday’s Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) through injury.
The son of Tavistock had risen to prominence in the hurdling ranks this term, winning the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) in June before an outstanding front-running display in last Saturday’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m).
Off the back of that effort, Dictation joined two-time champion Berry The Cash on top of the National market, but he was scratched from the $100,000 contest on Wednesday afternoon after a minor ligament strain was detected.
“He has a minor ligament strain, he’s been working on it and been okay but had a very little reaction when he was looked at by the vet,” Nelson said.
“He’s a very good horse, and the vet suggested that we wouldn’t want to race him now with that risk. Fortunately, it’s not too serious.”
At this time 12 months ago, the stable’s star jumper The Cossack was set to run in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) but was unable to take part in the race under similar circumstances.
The Hastings trainers and Dictation’s ownership group, the I See Red Syndicate, will still be represented in the Grand National Hurdles, with their hopes now solely with Suliman.
A former Wellington Hurdles (3400m) winner, the evergreen 12-year-old pleased Nelson with his fifth-placed effort in the Sydenham.
“A lot of the owners are coming down, so it’s just as well we have Suliman in there too,” he said.
“He was good in the Sydenham, he made up a lot of ground and you’d hope he could be pretty competitive on Saturday. He hasn’t had a lot of racing this year and he’s going well.”
Talented hurdler Nedwin will have his first major test over the bigger fences in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), after a tidy performance for fourth in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m).
Nedwin’s co-owner Mick Gardner has been in the south alongside Nelson this week and had a positive report on his charge after taking the gelding for a spin in trackwork.
“He’s been very keen this week in his work, Mick worked him for a couple of days and he wasn’t enjoying it by the end very much,” Nelson quipped.
“He went well in the Koral and will improve off that experience.”