Brer Looks the Part

The Informant reports:

Brer put his hand up for early season steeplechase features when he starred in a schooling session over the Te Rapa country this morning.

Seven horses took advantage of the opportunity eight days out from the opening day of the northern jumps season at Te Rapa next weekend. After the infield steeplechase lane was ruled out of use last year due to the development of Te Rapa's inside trial track, the five jumps that are such a feature of the steeplechase course are now back in play.

Brer, ridden by Daniel Miller, took part in a school over 13 fences with Glamour Boy (Emily Farr) and Reveal (Hamish McNeill) and led his companions with a dashing display. The seven-year-old has not been sighted over jumps since taking out a steeplechase double at the 2014 Grand National carnival.

He was sidelined in the early stages of his 2015 preparation but with two preparatory flat runs in recent weeks he is in forward condition for a return to jumps.

“He's come to hand very well and really enjoyed himself out there,” commented co-trainer Jamie Richards. “He'll run in the steeplechase back here next Saturday and all going well go to the Waikato Steeples two weeks later.”

The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Reveal, who won a steeplechase trial at Cambridge last week, also acquitted himself well and is expected to be on hand for maiden steeplechases coming up.

Old Redfeather, who is now with Te Awamutu trainer Warren Lund, was another to catch the eye. The big chestnut won a restricted open steeplechase at Te Aroha last August at the expense of subsequent McGregor Grant-Great Northern Steeplechase winner Jack Romanov and is in forward condition for the new season.

Marvon Downs, now trained by Paul Mirabelli, finished right alongside Old Redfeather and may be one to look out for before tracks get heavy.