The Mighty One Spar-kles Again

Defending his crown, The Mighty Spar (7 g Savabeel – O’Dianne, by O’Reilly) won the A$35,000 WC & AC Miller Steeplechase (3800m) on 29 June at Casterton (Victoria) in impressive fashion, having to carry 74.5kgs.

Unbeaten now in three attempts on the course, having won the corresponding event last season and making it two from two in the Ecycles Two Rivers Steeplechase (3800m) on 18 May, The Mighty Spar proved too strong last time out when winning the Bill Roycroft Steeplechase (3200m) on 15 June at Terang, and started a $1.70 race favourite. 

Completing a hat-trick of victories with top jumps' rider Steven Pateman in the saddle, The Mighty Spar cruised along behind the leaders before taking on two rivals ahead of the last obstacle and his turn of foot on the flat was too quick, despite the burden of 74.5kg. 

When making his move on the inside, commentator Rick McIntosh surged into gear, saying: “The Mighty Spar rails like a good greyhound, with a big weight, he’ll lead through the gap and come away from Pressfal (Sacred Falls) and Carnamah (Blackfriars) and he’s won the chase by two lengths.”

“It was a terrific win, carrying that big weight on a heavy track and he’s just so consistent,” said trainer Mark Walker. 

“He’s gives his all over the jumps every time he goes out and it was another lovely ride of Steve Pateman’s. 

“It was a weight carrying record in the race and not since 2014 had a horse carried that much weight to win a jumps race. “

“Casterton is certainly his favourite track, he’s three from three there, and he’s an absolute beauty.”

Walker had recently said that The Mighty Spar would contest two upcoming Steeplechases at Casterton, and with the first assignment in the bank he will now prepare for the Casterton Chase (3600m) on Saturday 26 July.

The Mighty Spar was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and is owned by Te Akau Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

A great campaigner to be involved in, since powering home from last to win his Maiden over 1400 metres as a three-year-old at Matamata, The Mighty Spar has now registered 11 wins, including six over fences, eight seconds, and 10 thirds, for almost $365,000 in prize money.

By Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old and nine-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), who proved himself one of the most versatile stallions in Australasia, The Mighty Spar has a lovely cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer on the dam side of Zabeel (Sir Tristram), the sire of Savabeel, and through the sire line of dam-sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon).

From the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne (Victoria), trainer Mark Walker had six wins and four seconds from 13 starts with stable horses over the fences last season, shared two wins apiece by Prismatic (Savabeel), The Mighty Spar (Savabeel), and  Leaderboard (Street Cry), the former Group 3 Wellington Cup and Listed St Leger winner, who followed his jumps' wins by finishing third in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m), third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m), and second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m).

And the same protagonists have continued in fine jumping fettle again this season, with The Mighty Spar leading the way, while Leaderboard was on song leading up to the Warrnambool Carnival, with wins a week apart in the Open Steeplechase 3250m on 6 April at Ballarat, and the J. E. H. Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) at Pakenham.

Leaderboard is now preparing for the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on 6 July at Warrnambool, Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on 3 August at Sandown, and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) on 17 August at Ballarat.

The Mighty Spar was strapped by Emma Wilson.