The Prestige Steeplechase (6400m) that is three times over the Ellerslie hill was won by Kick Back after a genius ride by Shaun Fannin that saved every inch possible at key moments. The fourteen-horse field was as big a line up as seen for a very long time and more to do with the fact the unbeatable Jack Romanov, which had won this last year by sixteen lengths and had this at his mercy again, got hurt two weeks prior. Suddenly every trainer and owner thought they had a chance so paid up accordingly. Kick Back, an 8yo mare, sat out the back as normal and was in the rear trio for most of the race and giving away a healthy start to many but got into ninth on the hill for the final time. Fannin then kept saving ground and switching back inside all the way down the hill and moved into third turning for home before urging the wee mare too her eleventh win in thirty-nine starts. She led at the 200m and scored by two and a half lengths in 8:08.65. In nine steeplechase runs she has won six times and placed twice with just one miss so she likes the bigger fences. Amanood Lad has not been himself of late but as usual found form on the day he likes with a sound second after being in or near the lead for most of the event. He has now won this race and placed twice in the last three years. The field was quite old as shown by ten of the runners were aged from a 10yo up to a 13yo, so not too many will be able to keep coming back and can be the future of the event. However the 8yo Zed Case ticked two boxes in that regard when finishing third as he is a maiden too and ran a blinder after surging into contention on top of the hill for the last time. Upper Cut kept boxing on as he does to finish a rugged fourth while the gap back to fifth onwards got massive and into the plus twenty lengths range as many tired leapers staggered home. Four runners did not finish with three falling and the other, Eric The Viking, was simply exhausted and could not run the trip and three hill climbs.