Spellbinding triumph

FAIRFAX

OUT ON HIS OWN: Hypnotize (Isaac Lupton) pricks his ears as he cruises to an historic third Northern Steeples win at Ellerslie on Saturday.

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There it was. A plain brown steeplechaser doing what comes naturally and unleashing a typically Herculean effort to win an historic third Great Northern Steeples.

An Ellerslie crowd, which to a man, had cheered itself hoarse as Hypnotize surged into contention and then sealed his win as Isaac Lupton coasted to the line over the last 50m.

Nearly every pair of arms were raised about their heads as a salute to a triumph and those that weren't were reaching for handkerchiefs to dab teary eyes.

And in the middle of it all was a humble, almost shy, young man who, though undoubtedly was moved more than most, outwardly appeared like he wished he was somewhere else.

Trainer Raymond Connors quietly removed himself from an erupting public grandstand and anonymously made his way over to the birdcage where he almost reluctantly accepted the congratulations from wellwishers and then grudgingly agreed to front Trackside cameras for a post-race interview.

He then deflected any suggestion of praise for his role in the victory onto his horse.

''He's just such a good horse,'' Connors said.

''It's nothing I do. I just work the horse and feed him and bring him to the races and he does the rest. It's nothing I do - it's the horse. I can't speak highly enough of the horse.''

There can be no doubt that part of the appeal of Hypnotize's great story is the likeable and unassuming Connors.

The Whangaehu dairy farmer may be 30-something but his methods - and manner - are old school.

Milk the cows, work the horses, show no emotion when they win.

There was emotion bubbling underneath and Connors even admitted afterwards: ''I'm shaking actually.''

But the exterior was super-cool even as Hypnotize - carrying a metric weight-carrying record of 70.5kg - became the first horse to win both the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and the 6400m Great Northern Steeples three times each, joining Hunterville as the only three-time Northern steeplechase winners.

''I can't describe it. You think he's gone and then he just keeps coming back. The horse has done everything you could ask for and more,'' he said.

''Coming to the last, you just hope he'll catch up. It's nerve-racking watching. It does mean a lot. It's really satisfying that the horse can put his name down in history.

''You always worry about the weight because it's not easy. But on what he's done he deserved the weight.''

In beating Karlos and last year's winner Fair King, Hypnotize brought up his eighth win in 12 steeplechase starts to go with three placings, including a second placing in the Great Northern Steeples last year.

Connors, who shares ownership with his father Mark, had previously suggested this could be 11-year-old Yamanin Vital gelding Hypnotize's last campaign but on Saturday and the trainer conceded he would have to give thought to bringing the crowd-pleasing jumper back next season for a crack at Great Northern No 4.

''I was thinking this would be his last year but the way he's going, who knows? We might bring him back to have another go,'' Connors said.

''We might have to keep him going. It's hard enough to get here. He's been lucky this time and nothing has gone wrong. You're always worried about injuries but it's a great thrill to be here today and pull off a part of history.''

Lupton had no doubt that Hypnotize should return at 12.

''Karasi won his third Nakayama Grand Jump at 12 and was fourth the next year at 13 but it's really up to the Connors family,'' Lupton said.

''He's a special horse and I don't know if the [extra] weight would beat him the way he finished today. They say you have to be a big horse to carry weight but it's remarkable for such a little horse like him to carry it so easily.

''This horse has given me and the Connors such a great thrill. He's been such a great horse to us and it's great to be part of jumps racing history in New Zealand. He's just a super horse and a privilege for me to be associated with him.

''It's just him and Hunterville as horse who have won this race three times so we're in pretty exclusive company.''

- © Fairfax NZ News