Game by name and game by nature was the story around the LJ Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m) that was taken out by the Kevin Myers trained Game Percy.

The Sir Percy six-year-old was having just his second run over the bigger steeplechase fences, mixing races on the flat and over hurdles in his most recent runs. A strong performance for fifth last weekend in the rescheduled KS Browne Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham indicated he was coming into some worthwhile form and that proved the case as he gave a polished display to make his first steeplechase win a memorable one.

 Expertly handled by leading rider Shaun Fannin, Game Percy sat back throughout the early stages of the contest as Te Awamutu visitor Thenamesbond set a solid tempo out in front. Fannin began to ease his way in contention down the back straight the last time before joining issue with another northern visitor in Joking around the home bend.

Game Percy leapt the last fence like a toff and out-toughed a game Joking to score by a half neck at the line with another Myers trained runner in I’ve Got This a further six lengths away in third.

“He probably put the writing on the wall at Trentham the other day when he made up good ground to finish just behind them,” said Fannin.

“This has been a top effort for a maiden chaser but he is typical of Kevin’s horses in that he has been jumping for a couple of years, so he is pretty proficient over both the hurdles and the bigger fences.

“He jumped well the whole way and responded nicely when I asked him to come into it down the back the last time.

“He hit the last well and was too strong in the run home which is the sign of a pretty good horse.”

While to all intents and purposes it was a well-judged ride by Fannin, he did admit he had copped a decent earful from Myers over his ride on Kiddo in the Awapuni Hurdles earlier in the day.

“I went too early on Kiddo and got him beaten when he may have been able to hold on if I had bided my time a little more,” he said.

“Kevin tore strips off me afterwards so I hope I have made it up to him with this win.”

It was the third career victory for Game Percy who carries the colours of his owners Di and Dr John Bowbyes who also race accomplished performer Megablast who took out the Gr.2 Easter Handicap (1600m) earlier in the year before finishing third in the Gr.2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at the Sunshine Coast at his most recent run. 
 
Video replay: Game Percy takes out the Manawatu Steeplechase