Jakama Krystal was back for redemption in the final jumping race of the season on Sunday and she earned just that, storming to victory in the Property Brokers Pahiatua/Woodville (4000m).
The Jakkalberry mare had competed at the Woodville venue earlier this month in the open steeplechase and looked the winner at the 600m, before landing awkwardly and dislodging her rider after jumping that fence.
Peter and Jessica Brosnan elected to back her up the following weekend at Te Rapa where she was solid in third, but returning to her preferred smaller circuit in the Central Districts, she looked to be an ominous chance closing a $3.90 favourite.
In the hands of Kylan Wiles, Jakama Krystal was near the speed early inside of Torque Time, but she soon assumed control of the race in front jumping with her typical flair. She maintained a strong gallop throughout the second lap and had much of the field flat-footed at the 600m, where on this occasion, she stayed firmly on her feet and romped away at the finish, the final margin being nine lengths.
Jessica Brosnan was complimentary of Wiles’ effort, indicating the mare is best left to her own style in the jumping role.
“We told Kylan to hang on to the neck strap and don’t tell her what to do at the jumps, because she’ll tell him,” she said.
“He rode her well and she likes those jumps and the fraction slower pace, so we were very happy and so are the owners. It’s great to win the last jumping race of the season.
“We just wing it with her in terms of racing over hurdles or steeples, the smaller tracks seem to suit her because she’s nippy over a fence and puts a few lengths on horses when she’s beside them.
“She’s pretty smart but we are realistic with her, she’s probably not a Grand National or Great Northern type of horse but she’ll pay her way in those smaller industrial meetings.”
The nine-year-old mare has won six of her 62 starts and north of 130,000 in stakes for an ownership group including the Brosnans.
The Matamata trainers also have plenty of involvement with Leitrim Lad, an 11-win flat horse that put that exact margin of 11 lengths on his rivals when taking out the David And Ellen Oliver (3000m).
“He hangs out here in the winter when he’s jumping, so we’re pretty proud of him too,” Brosnan said.
“It was a bit unfortunate the other day when he fell in the hurdle, I said to Eamonn (Green, owner and trainer) that he pulled up fine from it and didn’t seem to take any harm so we pressed on to today.
“He had been doing a bit of steeplechasing and it’s the same with him, just that slightly slower speed means that providing he concentrated over his fences, he was going to give them a good sight today. I told Emily (Farr, jockey) just to let him to his thing near or in front and keep the old boy interested.
“He’s such a cool horse to have around here, he’s got a bit of cunning in him and you can’t work him by himself, but he’s so lovable.
“The owners were rapt and it’s good for Eamonn, it keeps another trainer involved and for next year too.”
The jumping season wrapped up at the Woodville meeting and Brosnan had plenty of fond memories to look back on, particularly with their exciting steeplechaser Auld Jock, who figured in the finish of several top races through his campaign.
“Auld Jock finishing second in the Grand National Steeplechase and Ima Wonder winning the Pakuranga Hunt Cup were both very special moments, especially the Pakuranga being so hard to win and it’s a prestige race,” she said.
“There were so many highlights but plenty of low moments too, it’s great that the jumping people are a pretty tough and resilient and help each other out.
“We’ve got a couple of new horses for next year, including one that will race over summer and then kick on into the jumps next winter so we should have a big team, it’s something to look forward too.
“We’ve just got to kick on now for next season and hopefully many more after that.”