IRISH jockey William McCarthy guided the New Zealand-bred Heberite to an all-the-way win in the 150th edition of the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.

Across 5,500 metres and 33 fences with left and right-handed turns, this was McCarthy’s first ride in the race and he did it from the front to hand co-trainer Ciaron Maher a sixth win in the Grand Annual.

“I think it’s the best race on the whole calendar, well it is to me anyway. It’s phenomenal,” said Maher who trains Heberite with David Eustace. “It’s Mum and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary today. It’s fantastic.”

Aside from a mistake at the Tozer Road double when the course switches back on itself and the field must turn right, Heberite, at just his fourth jumps start, put in a nearly faultless display of strength and stamina.

At his limit in the dying stages, Heberite held off the strong finishing Police Camp to win by a length and a half with Eyes Are Blue in third.

The race favourite Vanguard, winner of Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase lost his hind legs cornering the Tozers Road double the first time round but didn’t appear injured.

“His second time over steeples and to come out here and win a Grand Annual and jump like that, it was an unbelievable performance,” said McCarthy on dismounting.

“After we straightened up, we had a bit of company over the last four or five (fences) and he showed some great heart for a young horse to jump as well as he did and fight down the lane as well.

Opportunity

“I’m towards the end of my career as a jockey. I’m not going to get to ride in too many Grand Annuals, maybe two or three of them, but I’m so glad I got the opportunity to ride in this one and even more blessed to make it count.”

A seven-year-old by Raise The Flag, Heberite left the care of New Zealand trainer Brian Anderton in July 2021 following his sale to clients of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Raise The Flag is the same sire as the 2020 winner Ablaze who was also bought from the Anderton yard and was also co-bred by Anderton.

“It is great with Ablaze and now Heberite,” said Anderton. “Raise The Flag is a great sire of stayers, they stay all day. We are thrilled.”

Maher pays tributes to Steve Pateman

“STEVE Pateman is very understated, he’s very modest himself, but God he’s an elite rider,” said Ciaron Maher following Pateman’s win on the French-bred Saunter Boy in last Wednesday’s A$175,000 Galleywood Hurdle over 3,200 metres.

“Steve is a great mate and he’s a very good rider. His determination, he is not a spring chicken anymore and he keeps fronting up.

“There’s nobody more competitive than him. He had to pull out all his ability to get that horse over the line, it was fantastic.”

A trio of Saunter Boy, St Arnicca and Out And Dreaming jumped the last locked together. On straightening at the top of the straight, the latter pair looked to have the race between them but Pateman refused to yield.

In desperate fashion he coaxed out what remained of Saunter Boy’s will to win as the grey Myboycharlie nine-year-old drew up to his rivals before outlasting them to the line, three-quarters of a length separating the trio.

The win redeemed Saunter Boy’s Galleywood loss last year when also a short-priced favourite.

“He was the best man at my wedding, he was riding when I started riding and I wouldn’t be here without him,” said Steven Pateman of Maher. “It is always special to ride winners for him. He’s helped me a lot in life and my riding career.”