Distance challenge for steeplechaser
In-form jumper Justa Charlie will be heading into unfamiliar territory on Saturday.
The rising 10-year-old’s depths of stamina will be tested when he tackles the Simon’s 50th Birthday Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) at Hastings.
“He’s been great and he’s really well, but he has to go three miles and that’s a query,” trainer Harvey Wilson said.
Justa Charlie will be at the top of his game for the distance test having won a restricted open over the big fences at Te Rapa three runs back before he finished runner-up to Max in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m).
The Shinko King gelding has since had a run on the flat at Hawera to keep him up to the mark.
“He’s a horse that doesn’t need a heck of a lot of work,” Wilson said. “If he went really well at Hastings we’d probably turn our attention to the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, he likes Waikato.”
Stablemate It’s A Wonder will also be in action on Saturday in the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m).
He ran second to The Shackler in the Waikato Hurdles (3200m) before parting company with rider Will Gordon in the K. S. Browne Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham.
“He put in a bad jump and flicked Will off, it was just one of those things,” Wilson said.
“The track was a little bit too heavy for him, but he’s come through it well.”
Wilson’s immediate focus will be on his home meeting at Waverley on Thursday when Venerate steps out in the Iplex Maiden 2000m following an unplaced run at Wanganui.
“He pulled a bit too hard, he’ll have this run and then go to Te Aroha for a steeplechase,” Wilson said.
Venerate won twice over hurdles before success over the big timber at Te Rapa last month.