Steven Pateman ruled out of riding in Grand Annual but can still win as a trainer

Historic, the last horse by Zabeel, will be retired after the Grand Annual Steeplechase and victory in the famous race would be a fitting way to go out.

Historic, the last horse by Zabeel, will be retired after Thursday’s Grand Annual Steeplechase. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman won’t be out on the track but he is still set for a bittersweet watch in the $350,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool.

Pateman was ruled out of riding on Thursday after he was taken to hospital following a fall from Nelson in a steeplechase on Wednesday.

However, he will saddle the 11-year-old gelding Historic, who holds a special place in Australasian breeding as the last horse by the legendary sire Zabeel to pass through a sales ring.

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The late New Zealand breeding great Sir Patrick Hogan himself led Historic through the sales ring after his operation Cambridge Stud prepared the then colt for sale.

Historic fetched $NZ160,000 as a yearling but Pateman paid a fraction of that amount before he had raced.

“Historic has been a really special horse for us,” Pateman said.

“We bought him for $1500 on the recommendation of Tom Dabernig.

“He’d definitely be the last Zabeel to be racing.”

Pateman has won three Grand Annuals as a jockey but Historic will be his first runner in the marathon event as a trainer.

Historic has returned his purchase price more than 15 times over in his 41-start career but Pateman said the Grand Annual would be the veteran’s last race.

“He’s been a great little horse for us,” Pateman said.

“He’s won six steeplechases and he’s one for one around Warrnambool and we’ve always said we’d love to run him in a Grand Annual.

“It will be a historic win if he gets home.

“We gave him his first start as a three-year-old and he’ll retire after Thursday, win, lose or draw.”

Steven Pateman, riding Sing For Peace to victory at Warrnambool on Tuesday, is unable to ride in the Grand Annual. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

The Grand Annual Steeplechase field has been reduced to 10 possible runners after the withdrawal of Leaderboard, who fell in Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase, and Jekyll’n’hyde, who won on Wednesday.

Trainer Eric Musgrove has also withdrawn Fort Charles, who also raced on Wednesday.

Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin will wait as long as possible to decide whether the Brierly Steeplechase winner Duke Of Bedford will tackle the Grand Annual.

Duke Of Bedford is the $4 favourite in Grand Annual betting, which could change significantly on Tuesday morning, depending on scratchings.

Kiwi jumper Berry The Cash and Heir To The Throne, a brother to Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, share the second line of betting at $6.

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TV host makes time for Warrnambool in election week

The Federal election has taken second place to the Warrnambool carnival for Sky News host Caleb Bond.

Bond hosts two shows on the channel as well as compiling political columns for various News Corp publications, making election week an important time for the commentator.

But jumps racing and Warrnambool are foremost in Bond’s heart this week.

Bond is a regular visitor to the Warrnambool May carnival and has a great chance for a win as an owner of Road Runner in the John Rule Champion Novice Hurdle (3200m).

A friendship with prominent jumps owner Pearse Morgan has led to Bond racing several jumpers, including the Australian Hurdle winner Circle The Sun.

“Pearse Morgan is a great mate of mine,” Bond said.

“I was talking to Pearse about it and he was talking about the horse and I said, ‘where the hell was the call for me’ and he was nice enough to slice off a hair on his tail for me.”

Bond’s love of jumps racing started in his home state of South Australia before jumps racing ended.

He said it was vital jumps racing remained in Victoria, especially at Warrnambool.

“We love going to Group 1s but you come here to Warrnambool and you meet real racing people,” Bond said.

“You can walk around and talk to anyone, it’s just fabulous.

“That’s why jumps racing is so important to Warrnambool.”

Originally published as Steven Pateman ruled out of riding in Grand Annual but can still win as a trainer