Steven Pateman claims elusive Australian Steeplechase
Steven Pateman has finally broken through to win the storied Australian Steeplechase, a major milestone in his already legendary jumps racing career.
At Sandown on Sunday, Pateman rode the Ciaron Maher-trained Stern Idol to a gutsy victory in the Australian Steeplechase (3900m), carrying a whopping 73kg and giving his nearest rival at least 7kg in weight.
The $1.85 favourite led the race from 3000m out and held on in determined fashion to beat Leaderboard ($9.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Not Usual Dream ($51) well behind in third.
Pateman admitted that, after jumping the final obstacle, the weight difference made for a tough solo effort to the post.
“It was pretty lonely after the last with the 73 kilos, knowing the second horse had seven kilos less,” Pateman said.
“I was thinking about how I had never won this race, I can tell you.
“The Australian Hurdle and the Australian Steeplechase, they are absolutely time-honoured events, so it’s super special.”
Maher’s training approach was strategic, as Pateman explained, with Stern Idol kept away from earlier steeplechases to manage his weight loads.
“He could have run in steeplechases earlier in the year, but he would have carried big weights, and he might have won one, but it’s too hard all the time,” Pateman said.
“He ran him in races where he was better weighted and today was a target.
“The way he settled, he knew where he was and the trip he had to run out. He was chilled and its testament to the horse and the training.
“He went his own rhythm. He travelled sweetly and wasn’t getting keen at all and I wasn’t leading from the get-go.
“I was happy for that to unfold. I wasn’t keen to lead all the way with 73 kilos, which could have been his undoing.
“He absolutely winged the second-last. If you could get some footage of where he took off from and where he landed, it would have been a couple of car lengths.”
The win also matched his weight-carrying effort from last year’s Brierly Steeplechase (3400m), further proving Stern Idol’s class under pressure.
The day ended on a sombre note, however, with Treasured Crown being euthanised following an accident at the second-last jump. His jockey William McCarthy was unhurt.
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