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Bee Tee Junior beats the jumps star Ablaze to claim this years Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat.
Bee Tee Junior has lowered the colours of jumps star Ablaze to claim the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat on Sunday.
Ablaze went into the final race of the 2020 jumps season unbeaten having claimed the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool and the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown along the way.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained jumper was attempting to emulate last year's feat of Tallyho Twinkletoe who claimed the Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase double, but found the very heavy Ballarat ground beyond him.
Jockey Lee Horner, who earlier in the program claimed the Gotta Take Care Hurdle and J J Houlahan Hurdle, was heavily criticized for his ride aboard Bee Tee Junior when second to Ablaze in the Grand National Hurdle earlier in August.
But trainer Rachael Cunningham pinned her faith in Horner to get the job done on Bee Tee Junior who was having his first start over the bigger obstacles.
Racing Victoria stewards, following a deputation from trainers and jockeys, decided to reduce the number of obstacles in Sunday's race, cutting the jumps in the home straight from two down to one.
Bee Tee Junior stalked the favourite Ablaze throughout the 4500m race, before Horner took the gelding to the front on the home turn.
There was one sticky moment for Cunningham and Horner when Bee Tee Junior almost stopped at the last obstacle, but Horner coaxed the gelding over the jump and raced to a nine length victory from Ablaze with Michelin six lengths away in third place.
Horner said he got some extra satisfaction out of Sunday's victory, saying Cunningham and her husband Peter are close friends of his and wife Amy McDonald.
"I've never actually ridden for them before this horse because we're good friends and they get superstitious that they don't want me to ride their horses," Horner said.
"Anyway, I ended up on the back of him and got the win.
"I thought the way he jumped his fences today he was good for the first time as he hasn't done much of it.
"He's just got a really good engine and he's just a really good horse.
"It's awesome to win a feature race for them today."
Bee Tee Junior joined Cunningham's stable earlier this year from New Zealand trainer Shaun Ritchie and had four flat starts before switching to the jumps.
The gelding had been successful in maiden hurdle company before crossing the Tasman and Cunningham said Bee Tee Junior had been a talented flat performer for Ritchie.
"He was a tough open handicapper and we maybe initially questioned how far he'd stay," Cunningham said.
"But as he's progressed through this prep he's shown unbelievable stamina.
"He's the most arrogant horse, it can be quite frustrating and just looking at him now, he's pulled up so well.
"I couldn't be prouder."