New Zealand jockey Aaron Kuru has picked up the ride on Spying On You in Sunday’s $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase in Ballarat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He joins fellow NZ-based riders Shaun Phelan and Will Gordon in the ultimate 4500m jumps test.
Phelan will be aboard Kiwi-trained galloper Monarch Chimes, while Will Gordon, who is from England, will have the reins on John Monash.
Phelan and Gordon each had engagements before making the trip, but Kuru decided to take a punt and book flights to ensure he would be available.
Kuru has been engaged by Murray Bridge trainer Grant Young.
Spying On You finished third in the Grand Annual Steeple at the Warrnambool May Carnival this year and is a last-start winner on the flat at Gawler.
Gordon was originally touted as the rider for John Monash’s stablemate - last-start Warrnambool winner I’ll’Ava’Alf.
The Grand National has attracted 12 acceptors, with three-time winner Wells top weight with 73.5kg.
Ballarat-based jockey Richard Cully again takes the ride on Wells.
Champion jockey Steve Pateman, who rode Bashboy to two of his three Grand National Steeple victories, will be on the Patrick Payne-trained Sea King.
The Grand National will be the sixth event at 4.45pm on an all-jumps six-event program, which begins at 12.45pm.
The $125,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle, 3200m, will have six starters, including Daren Weir’s in-form Bit Of A Lad.
The track had improved on Thursday to rates a heavy8.
GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE
1-981 Wells 10 (R Cully) 73.5kg
2-222 Sea King 6 (S Pateman) 70.5
3-291 I’ll’Ava’Alf 8 (D Horner) 66.5
4-131 Excellent Rhythm 9 (J Lynch) 65.5
5-113 Monarch Chimes 4 (S Phelan) 65
6-018 Gold A Plenty 2 (T Ryan) 64
7-4F1 Spying On You 11 (A Kuru) 11
8-2L5 Abebe 3 (M Kelly) 64
9-172 John Monash 1 (W Gordon) 64
10-556 Undergroundfighter 5 (L Horner) 64
11-2F4 Surging Wave 7 (C Douglas) 64
12-264 Entirely Perfect 12 64
BALLARAT apprentice jockey Lucinda Doodt achieved career milestone at Sandown on Wednesday.
Doodt had her first metropolitan win – saluting on Parwan Prince ($3.90) in a benchmark70, 1000m.
It gave the 21-year-old two wins in as many days after guiding Esprit Finale ($4.40) to a win for Ballarat trainer Alan Hanrahan in a benchmark58, 1000m, on the Geelong synthetic.
Doodt has had 54 career wins.
"Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat."
