This Prestige Steeplechase over 3900m was contested on a tricky wet and biased track where the farthest any winner came from turning for home all day was fifth. Of the nine race card two winners came from fifth turning in (both jumpers in Max here and Napoleon (impressive) earlier in the card and the rest either led or raced second with a close fourth the other victory in a 3yo only race. Max settled down last on his own and stayed there until improving gradually a lap out and down the backstraight as well as across the top. The rising 9yo gelding was noticeably closing at the 600m and turned for home fifth and with ample to offer. He was still fourth over the last fence then second at the 100m but the strength of his finish saw him take the lead with 75m to go and he went on to score by two and a half lengths. The time of 4:35.50 was nothing flash but the maiden steeplechase event held one race prior was run and won in just under six seconds slower (almost thirty-six lengths) for some perspective. Today was the sixth win from twenty-one starts by Max and five of them have come as a jumper (four steeplechase wins and one hurdle win) and he has only raced on slow or heavy footing. He looks a Great Northern Steeplechase contender this year and with Ellerslie closed down getting track renovation, repairs and rejuvenation it sees the Great Northerns (hurdles and steeples) run here at Te Rapa. Justa Charlie, which started favourite, sat back and was sixth on his own a lap out but closed up across the top and then went through near the home turn to lead turning in. The rising 10yo led over the last fence but could not repel the strength of the winner inside the final 100m. Thenamesbond did not lead as he normally does and raced third or fourth before taking the front across the top only to be headed near the home turn, He was third turning for home and the same over the last fence and held onto that position well enough. Shamal was third then second in the running and looked likely to pay a dividend when still in the runner up spot over the last fence only to weaken the final 100m. The Big Opal did not start favourite and that was a sign he was vulnerable and so it proved to be as the on pacer once joined and headed at the 600m offered little fight and weakened to fifth beaten over thirteen lengths. He likes to lead and be left alone enjoying himself but rival riders know this now. The rest stopped badly and Fair Script was pulled up across the top when last and exhausted. This was not a very strong field at all, like the Hurdle feature today, and does not augur well for the Winter season that is yet to start so maybe (hopefully) some leaping powder is being kept dry for bottomless bogs to come. Max has these covered and the further the trip the bigger the margin in his favour. Several of the jumpers on display today are not out and out stayers so when the longer trips are on offer they will be exposed.