THE Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington wasn’t meant to be part of champion jumper Stern Idol’s farewell tour before retirement but in a reshuffle it fits in perfectly in terms of his preparation.
Making his appearance in the race even more fitting is there’s a perfect tie-in between the race and the ownership group.
The race was first run in 1849 but disappeared off the racing calendar for 171 years.
It was form guru Deane Lester who pushed the VRC to reintroduce and they did that in 2020.
Lester passed away in 2023 and the VRC decided to honour his memory by adding his name to the race title.
The tie-up is that Lester was the right-hand man for Stern Idol’s managing owner Gerry Ryan and his extensive ownership portfolio.
Stern Idol was meant to have run in the Mosstrooper Steeplechase at Warrnambool last Sunday but he scared off all his rivals under the set-weights and penalties format and he was the only acceptor which led to Racing Victoria abandoning the race.
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Maher’s national assistant trainer Jack Turnbull,after consultation with trainer Ciaron Maher, picked out the Flemington Cup as an ideal lead into the Crisp Steeplechase on Sunday, August 2 at Sandown which is likely to be Stern Idol’s last run.
Amazingly Stern Idol will be making his Flemington debut and after the three-kilos claim for Jabez Johnstone the 18 hands six-year-old gelding will only carry 54kgs.
Stern Idol has won 16 of his 30 jumps starts and is regarded as one of the greatest jumpers in Australian history.
Turnbull said it was a great opportunity for the in-form apprentice to ride a horse such As Stern Idol.
Stern Idol, who began his career in France, has had 23 jumps starts in Australia and has won 15 of them.
He has had only a handful of flat starts in Australia with last win in March 2023.
Stern Idol is $13 with Unibet.
The favourite in the race is another talented jumper Highland Blaze, trained by ex jumps jockey Shane Jackson, who was an easy last start winner on the flat at Flemington over 2600m in the Banjo Patterson Series Final.
Highland Blaze has been backed from $4.40 into $3.90 with Unibet.
The highlight of the Flemington program is the two-year-old race over 1000m where the Hayes brothers’ Hard Kick will clash with Black Caviar’s granddaughter Panachenko.
Hard Kick had one start over summer for an easy win over 1000m at Flemington where he defeated Zambales who then finished fourth in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Panchenko, trained by Team Hawkes, was a brilliant winner at Bendigo at her debut by five lengths in a style which provoked memories of her immortal grand-dam.
Hard Kick is $1.90 favourite with Panchenko at $2.90 with Unibet.
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