Sing For Peace denies Stern Idol a fairytale finish at Sandown

The anticipated script for champion jumper Stern Idol's farewell race did not unfold as planned, with the horse finishing without a top-three finish.

Stern Idol, sent out as the $1.90 favourite, could only manage fourth under jockey Will Gordon, finishing a considerable 12 lengths behind the winner in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday.

Stern Idol, aiming for a fourth consecutive win in the race named after a former Australian jumping great, was not at its peak on Sunday and displayed awkward jumping.

Jack Turnbull, Ciaron Maher Racing's National Assistant Trainer, acknowledged the disappointing conclusion to a distinguished career, but highlighted the horse's safe passage through the race.

"Will said he didn't feel like he was at his best and clearly, he wasn't," Turnbull said.

"He didn't travel as strong and as bold as he normally does and made a few errors down the back.

"There were a few nervous moments late, but thankfully he came back to the yard standing and he pulled up pretty well.

"It's sad to see him go, but he made it around safe, which is what counts."

Spectators present at the course offered Stern Idol applause as the field passed the finish line for the first time, with a further ovation upon the horse's return to the mounting yard.

"There were 20 Ballarat staff that came down, there was Cranbourne staff, Fingal staff, they have all made the effort to come out here which is great," Turnbull explained.

"It's more than the sport, it's more about the horse.

"It's hard to draw comparisons with a flat horse, but he is the best jumper, so to see him finish, and know he's finishing up, that's the strangest part."

The Patrick Payne-trained Sing For Peace ($3.20) ultimately claimed the victory, winning by a nose from Mr Lincoln ($18), with Hit The Road Jack ($5) securing third place, two lengths further back.

Neil Greaves, representing the Payne camp, commented that jumps racing itself was the victor.

"It's a perfect time to salute the great Stern Idol," Greaves stated.

"He didn't win today, but he's been a great jumper over the last four years.

"The scene is changing and we're lucky enough to have some of the better ones at the moment."

The Payne stable also celebrated a win in the day's opening race with Split.

However, jockey Tom Ryan was the standout performer across Sandown's three jumps races, achieving a feature race double after winning the Grand National Hurdle on Andy Win.

Ryan partnered Sing For Peace to victory in the Australian Steeplechase and confessed he believed the gelding had cost itself the race with a significant error approximately 1200 metres from the finish.

"He made a really bad mistake, and I don't know how he stood up, to be honest," Ryan said.

"But he made a really good jump at the last and it was do or die and he battled on all the way to the line.

"I didn't think I had held on, but luckily, we did."

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