Waiuku trainer Sean Cameron couldn’t be happier with Go Go Gonzo ahead of the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 128th Grand National Hurdles over 4200m at Riccarton on Wednesday.
The Golan eight-year-old gelding has thrived since transitioning to jumps racing, with his eight and a half length win in the Sydenham Hurdles on Saturday the highlight of his seven-start career.
Cameron was over the moon with the victory and said Go Go Gonzo had pulled up well after the run.
“It was above my expectations really, it was a bit scary the way he won.
“He’s good as gold after the run, he’s been out to the beach the last couple of days just to have a walk in the water to loosen up. If he’s not fit now he’ll never be fit.”
Last season’s leading jumps jockey Aaron Kuru will take the ride aboard Go Go Gonzo with Saturday’s winning rider Hamish McNeill already committed to Ready Eddie.
“Hamish made an agreement to ride him and The Oysterman all the way through (the season) so he has stuck by his word,” Cameron said.
“The way Hamish rode him on Saturday, he had done everything perfect and the horse went good for him so it’s hard changing a winning combination, but Aaron is a top man.”
Cameron is happy with his runner’s progress, but admits a question remains whether he will handle the step-up in distance to 4200m.
“He was just a grinder on the flat,” Cameron said. “He won over 2150m at Riverton one day by nearly five lengths, so I always thought he could stay, but the 4200m is going to be a telling factor.”
Meanwhile, Cameron is unsure whether his other runner Bullitt will handle the heavy ground at Riccarton, but has taken confidence with former apprentice jockey Emma Power taking the ride in the Nautical Boat Insurance Grand National Amateur Championship.
“I’m not quite sure whether he is a heavy tracker,” he said. “He’s had two starts on slow tracks for wins, but I thought I’d have a go in the amateur riders’ race.
“Emma Power is not long out of being an apprentice so I thought with a more experienced jockey on him she may be able to get the better of the other amateurs.”
