The A$350,000 Grand National Steeple, held on a dry track at Ballarat for the first time in three years, went the way of the locally-trained Brungle Bertie who caused a 30/1 upset.

Trained by Henry Dwyer with Lee Horner in the saddle, Brungle Bertie, who won the 3,600-metre steeplechase on this card last year, excelled at Sunday’s 4,500-metre test, posting a six-length win. Having tracked the leaders, headed by the $1.30 favourite Stern Idol with Willie McCarthy up, Brungle Bertie eased into clear running approaching the third last to take over the running on landing.

Jumping his final two cleanly, Horner had plenty of time to celebrate as the Canford Cliffs eight-year-old was untroubled in the run to the line. Second was the Irish-bred Bell Ex One with Castrofrancaru third.

“He was the right horse for the race. Henry (Dwyer), win, lose or draw is unreal at setting a horse for a race,” said Horner. “The horse has got a massive tank, I think he’ll be a good Grand Annual horse”

Without a win to Brungle Bertie’s name for 12 months Dwyer was circumspect with the unusually dry surface for this time of year.

“Lee wasted to ride him, I’m very grateful to him for doing that, he gave him a lovely steer,” said Dwyer. “Just over the moon to win what is probably an absolutely iconic race on our home track, he’s a beautiful horse. We wanted to be here this time last year and it couldn’t happen.

“This year, we said to Peter (Balderstone) the owner, ‘we could go this whole season without winning a race’ because he wasn’t going to be competitive in any race until today. When the rain didn’t come we were really, really downbeat but as it turned out he didn’t need the rain. Obviously the favourite didn’t run up to his best but our bloke was super.”

The hot favourite Stern Idol was gone at the 1,000-metre mark, dropping off the pace before being eased out of the race by Willie McCarthy.

“We were happy with him coming here today but it just didn’t work out,” said assistant trainer Declan Maher. “That might’ve been the end of the road (campaign) but we had to try it.”

Highs and lows in one hour for McCarthy

CORK native Chris McCarthy produced a standout ride to claim the A$150,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle over 3,250 metres at Ballarat on Sunday.

Aboard the German-bred Camelot gelding Fabalot for trainer Symon Wilde, McCarthy took control of the race from the outset, letting Fabalot roll along as they stretched their lead to 15 lengths.

The challengers closed the gap to three lengths with 1,000 metres to run but McCarthy had another gear, drawing clear again as Fabalot continued to jump smoothly, the pair going on to win by 12 lengths.

“Once I got a couple of quiet sectionals, the boys probably thought I was going too quick, but I was actually slowing down and filling up, and I got away on them,” said McCarthy. “I’m rapt with the horse, unbelievable.” Second was Fabalot’s stablemate Field Of Lights with Heir To The Throne in third.

“I reckon Chris McCarthy is brilliant on frontrunners, he just gets them right and he nearly stole the Grand National (Hurdle) for us a few weeks ago,” said Symon Wilde. “It was a good, daring ride, the horse can really stick on, and he’s just come of age really. We’d like to have a crack at The Galleywood again next year.”

Just 40 minutes later McCarthy experienced the lows that can follow the highs. Riding Twin Spinner in the 3,600-metre Steeplechase, the pair fell early on in the race with McCarthy then being trodden on by another runner.

With the ambulance trackside the race had to be abandoned with McCarthy still being attended to. He was taken to hospital conscious, but complaining of shoulder pain.

Joseph readies Melbourne team

SPRING has arrived in Melbourne, and with feature racing on the doorstep, Joseph O’Brien looks certain to have runners for Flemington in November.

“The Melbourne Cup is such a special race and it’s a race that we like to compete in every year if we can. We have three or four horses that may come down,” said O’Brien who indicated that Okita Soushi, Point King, Valiant King and Buckaroo were all likely candidates.

Presently the Melbourne Cup favourite is Willie Mullins-trained Ballyroan Stakes winner Vauban, quoted in local markets as an $8 (7/1) chance.