Jenny
Barnes

Oakbank
2002

26/03/02 Heroes and Warriors - The Great Eastern Steeplechase

After a short break and two runs on the flat River Amos then won an Improvers Cup at Sale before heading for the big jumping races at Flemington. In the Crisp Steeple he ran second to Blondeau before heading to the Grand National Steeple. One of many to fall in the race, River Amos took a harmless tumble (his only fall over the jumps) and was remounted to finish seventh of the 14 runners as the race went to Derrydonnell from the evergreen Prince Lindal.

River Amos resumed in 1989 with two unplaced runs on the flat before winning at Moonee Valley then running fourth in the Listed Duke of Norfolk Stakes at Flemington. His first jumps start was in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank where Brown Cast to whom he conceded 4 ½ kg was too good winning by seven lengths from River Amos with a further 20 lengths to Golden Sino third in a 16 horse field. After a second in a Pakenham hurdle River Amos headed to Warrnambool for the Grand Annual Steeple where he ran 6th to Dunroe and soon after went to the spelling paddock. River Amos resumed his jumping career in the Pine Hurdle where he was unplaced behind Wandering Duke, brilliant performer Sharp As and Andallah (who led the Grand National by a huge margin before sadly crashing at the second last fence). Next he conceded weight when running sixth to Curl Of Success with Believe in second place in the Noble Law Steeple. River Amos then headed back to Oakbank.

In the Great Eastern Steeplechase of 1990 River Amos was the crowd favourite and he didn't let them down freely striding in front on the second lap past the grandstands. Then tragedy struck Curl of Success joined him along the inside past the post heading into the final lap and on the flat Curl of Success slipped on the turn crashing into River Amos with both horses falling to the turf. Horror hit onlookers as both horses suffered shocking injuries with Curl of Success hobbling to the outside rail before being caught and River Amos unable to stand. As Commission Red raced to a hard fought victory over Wolveraction and Contract most attention of race fans was on the tragic fate of their hero in what is probably the saddest happening of the recent history of Oakbank. After the race the two distraught jockeys reportedly came to blows over the tragic accident. River Amos won 8 of his 40 starts (8 of 19 over jumps) often carrying huge weights for his small statue and preferred the dry tracks to rain affected.

Light Hand had a brief but brilliant career and is the last of the multiple winners of the Great Eastern Steeplchase. By Jacinto from Double Summer Light Hand was trained in New Zealand by John Wheeler for CC & KY Lim. After several unplaced efforts on the flat the 4yo Light Hand ran fifth at his first start over hurdles. Four weeks later he won a Maiden Hurdle over 2800m on a heavy track at Hawera before heading to Trentham and taking second place behind Star Chord. To Foxton where he returned to the winning lists winning a 2800m hurdle by 1.5 lengths to Grey Raider. Light Hand then returned to flat racing winning a Maiden by seven lengths then an Improvers Handicap by a long head. He completed the hat trick of victories with a four length win in an Open Handicap at Otaki with all races being run on rain affected ground. Three unplaced efforts on the flat led to Light Hand having a summer spell before returning to training for the Oakbank carnival. After two unplaced efforts he ran second in the Stayers Classic at Stratford over 2800m and a fortnight later found himself in Australia at Oakbank. In the Von Doussa Steeplechase Sir Cheviot was too good winning from Light Hand with Kadash third. Two days later it was a different story as Light Hand appreciated the extra distance of the Great Eastern Steeplechase winning by 7 ½ lengths from Tempest Star and Sir Cheviot with Squire John fourth. He then headed to Warrnambool for the Grand Annual but ran seventh of 11 behind Hoki, Sir Cheviot and Straight and True and was found to have leg problems which kept him out of racing until the following December. After a further three flat runs Light Hand was again aimed at Oakbank. Unplaced at Trentham and Te Rapa, Light Hand then won a Jumpers Flat as the odds on favourite by 4 ½ lengths before heading to Australia. In the Von Doussa victory was never in doubt as he streaked away from Impulsive Risk, Donegal and Gold Fever to win by 9 ½ lengths and favouritism for the Great Eastern two days later. Again he gave the opposition a lesson in jumping winning well held by 8 ¾ lengths from Denali with a further 10 ½ lengths to Impulsive Risk third. Light Hand had defeated many of the top Melbourne jumpers in those races and was aimed at the Melbourne jumps racing in the winter. The plans were cancelled though when Light Hand could only beat one runner home in a flat race at Flemington. It was found that he had broken down in running with a suspensory ligament injury and was retired. In only 9 jumps starts Light Hand had recorded 5 wins and two seconds with three of those races being at Oakbank for two Great Eastern Steeple victories. Light Hand is now an eventer in New Zealand.

Sir Sagamore never won a race at Oakbank and in fact only ever started twice at the course, but his name along with jockey Simon Mills, is world famous for their run in the 1992 Great Eastern Steeplechase. Royally bred by Sir Tristram from Minuetto and in the stable of David Hayes, Sir Sagamore started his career in 1986 where he showed ability without being able to break into the first three placings. In April 1987 the lightly raced grey won over 1600m at Victoria Park but in two subsequent starts struggled against his fellow three-year-olds. After a long spell he resumed in February 1988 and won over 1990m at Strathalbyn at his fourth run back. Sir Sagamore then won over 2223m at Victoria Park before a close second at Cheltenham and a fourth at Morphettville. He then headed to Melbourne to run fourth at Flemington over 2500m before running third last at Moonee Valley suffering a problem that kept him off racetracks until July 1991 over three years later. After two unplaced runs Sir Sagamore started his jumping career. Unplaced at Victoria Park he improved next start when he won over 3200m at Morphettville. A third at Cheltenham followed then a third at Morphettville before being spelled for the autumn and Oakbank. Unplaced on the flat first up Sir Sagamore returned to form with a third at Strathalbyn in his return to the jumps. Switching to the steeplechase fences Sir Sagamore adapted well leading over the final fence and sprinting for home. Squire John chased hard on the flat and caught Sir Sagamore in the final charge down the home straight. Two days later Sir Sagamore was within reach of the leader Teen Wolf but appeared to tire slightly misjudging the third last jump. Over the second last jump, the first part of the double heading back to the course proper, Sir Sagamore appeared to screw and Simon Mills was unseated on landing. His right foot became caught and with no time for the horse to pull up and nowhere to swerve around the final jump Sir Sagamore headed for the final fence to the horror of the crowd. Sir Sagamore put in a mighty leap dragging Simon Mills over but clear of the fence. Fellow jockey Butch Londergan was alongside and went to rein in his mount to assist but then Simon Mills' foot finally came free of the stirrup. Despite his terrifying ordeal Simon Mills came through with only a few lost teeth and a minor shoulder injury. He accredited his fortune to the huge leap Sir Sagamore made over the fence. Footage of the incident has been seen all over the world and many times on American 'remarkable happenings' shows. Simon Mills has travelled to the US to speak about the unique incident. The Great Eastern was ultimately won by another grey in Vinchiamo who ran down the leader Teen Wolf on the flat but the race is famous for that fall and that leap.

Five weeks later Sir Sagamore returned to racing to win the Somoy Steeple from the fast finishing Lunar Fox. He then ran third at Flemington then fourth in the Australian Steeple at Sandown. Second in the Crisp Steeple, Sir Sagamore was then aimed at the Grand National Steeplechase a week later. Sir Sagamore was pulled up during the race as Donnie's Chance raced to victory and was away from racing until the following February. After tailing off last in a field of eight at Gawler Sir Sagamore was retired. He wasn't a champion racehorse but was a hero to Simon Mills, his connections and all who witnessed the final two fences of the 1992 Great Eastern Steeplechase.

This year another Oakbank legend may come to fruition as Turkey Lane tries to win his second Great Eastern Steeplechase. After running fourth in the 1998 Von Doussa Turkey Lane outstayed The Sundance Kid to win the Great Eastern. In 1999 he was fifth in the Von Doussa before falling at the second last fence in the Great Eastern. Turkey Lane missed the race in 2000 and 2001 after being injured in a lead up race at Cheltenham in March 2000. Turkey Lane returned to racing in July 2001 running third in his first hurdle race of his comeback. Filling second in three of his four subsequent starts Turkey Lane was spelled and aimed at another attempt at Oakbank. At his second and latest jumps start for this year he ran a fast finishing second to Hostler at Murray Bridge and is on track for a return to to the famous Oakbank course at Easter.

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