Despite a few anxious moments in running, outstanding jumper Berry The Cash made light work of his 73kg topweight to extend his winning streak to seven races on the trot.
Mark Oulaghan reigned supreme with his star jumpers West Coast and Berry The Cash during the Grand National Carnival last year, and the Awapuni horseman is back and favoured to repeat his heroics on Saturday.
There are few sights more spectacular than watching jumps racing at Riccarton Park, and Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 149th Grand National Steeplechase Day offers a front-row seat to a phenomenal afternoon of racing.
Berry The Cash, the hot favourite for the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles next weekend, completed the perfect dress rehearsal for that feature when taking out the Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdleson.
“For me, the premiership is more about how far I’ve come. I’m not someone who has always had a lot of belief in myself and my ability to ride, my biggest fear with riding on race day was disappointing people."