Top jumper Stern Idol chasing another win in Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool

Last start’s winning margin was no indication of classy jumper Stern Idol’s improvement heading into Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool.

Stern Idol is an odds-on favourite to win Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

Stern Idol’s regular rider William McCarthy suggested form analysts look at the clock when assessing how well the brilliant jumper is tracking leading into Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Stern Idol won the Spencer Memorial Steeplechase by 15 lengths last April but won the this year’s edition of the Pakenham contest by only 2½ lengths on April 14.

The Irish-bred chaser, who is a $1.70 favourite with TAB, carried 2kg more this year, but McCarthy said the clock was a better indicator of Stern Idol’s progress.

“The time was actually three seconds faster than what he did last year so that equates to about 15 lengths,” McCarthy said.

“The other horse came and made a bit of a run at him at the end but we gapped the rest of the field. He felt very good to me that day and he’ll improve off that run.”

Stern Idol bypassed last year’s Brierly Steeplechase in favour of an unsuccessful tilt at the marathon Grand Annual Steeplechase.

Stern Idol is an acceptor for Thursday’s edition of Australia’s longest race, but McCarthy was unsure whether the son of Raven’s Pass would back up.

Stern Idol and jockey William McCarthy will again combine in the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

However, McCarthy was sure Stern Idol was still improving as the winner of nine of 25 starts gathered further race experience in Australia.

“He can tend to maybe overdo it sometimes but in more recent runs, he’s been putting it together better and better every time,” McCarthy said.

“Early doors, he used to be out of the barriers and bolting and getting 50 (lengths) in front and still winning by 25 but maybe getting tired at the end.

“Now he’s racing better for sure at the start of his races and running the race and doing his best work at the end. He’s maturing.”

Stern Idol is one of seven rides for McCarthy during the Warrnambool May Carnival.

His book includes Kiwi visitor The Mighty Spar in Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle and the Henry Dwyer-trained Budd Fox in Thursday’s Grand Annual Steeplechase.

McCarthy has ridden at some of the world’s biggest jumps racing carnivals, including the Cheltenham Festival in England but said the Warrnambool Carnival had a redeeming feature over some of Melbourne’s feature spring race days.

“I’ve been to the Cox Plate and the Derby in the city and you could ask 90 per cent of the racegoers walking out who won the big race and they wouldn’t be able to tell you,” he said.

“I think the people at Warrnambool are there for the racing and they’re horse people and it’s a good feeling”.

Originally published as Top jumper Stern Idol chasing another win in Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool