Hypnotize Leaves Rivals In A Trance
- Sunday, 22 August 2010 09:45
Trainer and part owner Ray Conners is re-thinking his decision to retire Hypnotize after the remarkable jumper became the first horse to win the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeplechase three times in its 136-year history.
Hi previous victories came in 2007 and 2008 while he finished furth in the race last year.
Ellerslie is also the venue of New Zealand's richest jumps race, the $85,000 Great Northern Steeplechase and that will be Hypnotize's next assignment on September 4.
Just last week it was reported Conners was adamant Hypnotize would be retired after the Great Northern at the grand age of 11.
But on Saturday night he was playing his cards closer to his chest.
"You never know," Conners said.
His father Mark, who shares in the ownership, said the Great Northern would be the horse's swan song before adding "at this stage".
Mark Conners said retirement had been considered for Hypnotize after last year's Great Northern but following a second placing regular jockey Isaac Lupton suggested a re-think.
"If he had won he probably would have been retired. But he ran second and Isaac said don't retire him...bring him back,".
Hypnotize took out the Great Northern in 2007 and 2008 and the Conners' are mindful that only one other horse has won the race three times - Hunterville who completed the hat-trick in 1985.
Lupton is almost making the Pakuranga Hunt Cup his own. He has ridden Hypnotize in each of his three wins in the race and has two further successes aboard Bart in 2005 and Real Tonic in 2006. He has had nine rides in the race for five wins, a second, a third and a fourth.
Hypnotize, a gelding by Yamanin Vital, cost $20,000 at a 2001 sale for two-year-olds.
