It was back to Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills for the first day of the Easter Jumps Racing carnival and despite the overcast weather a huge crowd turned out for the day.  The crowd stretched right up and around the home turn for the first race and space was at a premium for both the hurdle and the steeplechase events (patrons gathered to watch at the various steeplechase fences on the course for the Von Doussa which is usually only happens with the big crowds on Monday for the Great Eastern and man of the carparks were packed near full.

Jumps racing may have ended in other states but Victoria and South Australia (ended for various reasons often financial or losing their best racehorses and jockeys interstate - for further information please check this link  HISTORY OF JUMPS RACING ) but it is still an Easter tradition in South Australia.

In the first race the Oak Hcp Gold Bundle led from Light Tan followed by Silent Attitude and St Fraser with Detox near the rear.  By the 50m Light Tan and Gold Bundle were in front but Silent Attitude and St Fraser then Detox were running on strongly.  Gold Bundle clawed back the lead as Silent Attitude started to lunge in the centre with Detox & St Fraser on the outside and as they hit the line it was Silent Attitude in front by a nose with St Fraser and Detox dead heating for second.  It was Silent Attitude's second win in a row and 6 from 19 overall with 9 placings.

In the Woodford Reserve Hurdle Honour the Force led from Apres with Preside next followed by The Democrat and Mr Composed then Encosta Rica followed by Beatboy and Big Jam with Lennybe at the tail.  In teh straight the first time Honour the Force narrowly led Apres with Preside out wider followed by The Democrat and Mr Composed then Beatboy followed by Encosta Rica and Big Jam with Lennybe at the back.  Along the back Apres took over in front from Honour the Force and Preside followed by The Democrat as Lennybe started to run on from Beatboy.  Around the home turn Preside hit the front from Apres with Honour the Force fighting on with Lennybe out wide and The Democrat closer tothe rail with Beatboy trying to run on between runners.  Over the last Preside went clear of The Democrat then Honour the force and Beatboy followed by Apres with Lennybe and Encosta Rica out wide.  In the run to the line preside came away to win easily from The Democrat with Beatboy third just ahead of Encosta Rica with Lennybe fifth.  Amy Herrmann was having her first race ride over the jumps on Lennybe today as well as having been booked for 4 rides in the remaining 6 flat races.  Preside is by Savabeel from Jacqwin and it was his first win in 12 starts and second start over the jumps it was also the first race of the day to go to the Victorians with the winner being from the stable of Eric Musgrove while New Zealand was second with The Democrat trained by John Wheeler with locally trained Beatboy from the stable of Grant Young third.

The MMM Hcp saw Greybrow  go to the early lead from Schumacher with He's a Houndog third followed by My Uncle Vinny, Noble Success and Quick Thoughts.  Inside the final 200m Schumacher raced well clear but it was Wakeel and Gumnuts who started to storm home out wide.  Inside the final 50 Wakeel stored to the front to take control and race away to win from Gumnuts with Schumacher third.  Wakeel took his record to 10 starts for 3 wins and 2 placings while Gumnuts at 11 years of age was the oldest horse competing on the day and looked in great form only just being run down in this event.

The Yalumba Hcp was next and at 3600m is the longest flat race in Australia and was actually the longest race on the program (yes over more ground than the Von Doussa).  Stings Like a Bee led from Dumosa with Magus with Val Mondo and Yamanaura next.  Dumosa soon took the front running position from Magus followed by Stings Like a Bee then Val Mondo then Yamanaura and Crocodile Tears.  By the winning post the first time Stings Like a Bee had taken over again from Dumusa then Magus and Val Mondo then Yamanaura with Crocodile Tears and Allgraceful well back.  Along the back the last time and Dumosa led from Val Mondo followed by Magus then Crocodile tears and Yamanaura as Allgraceful started to make ground.  Around the turn Val Mondo sprinted away in front from Dumosa with Yamanaura making ground followed by Allgraceful.  Halfway down the straight Val Mondo was stillclear of Allgraceful who was chasing hard from Yamanaura with Indite making late ground.  In the last 50m Allgraceful caught Val Mondo and came away to win easily with Val Mondo second and a massive gap to Indite third and then Yamanaura fourth.  Allgraceful is from the Victorian stable of Patrick Payne and took her record to 14 starts for 4 wins.

In the Daiquiri King Hcp Our Belvoir led from Maskhara then Teen Spirit and Californian Devil.  By the 200m Maskhara drew alongside Our Belvoir then Teen Spirit with Rose of Lincoln starting to run on with Kvinnakel.  In the final 50m Maskhara drew away to win from Our Belvoir with Californian Devil third.  Maskhara took her record to 27 starts for 4 wins with 8 placings.

In the Oakbank trials early in the week Lord of the Song shocked many in the awkward way he first started jumping the live hedges.  Instead of jumping in a true hunter style (such as seen in the Section 4s at the Adelaide Royal) it seemed he was trying to jump them like a showjumper and as a result was losing all momentum.  Although entered for the Von Doussa he had to improve greatly to be any chance of being competitive in the race.  Schooling with a more experienced steeplechase horse on Thursday obviously did the trick and Lord of the Song lined up for the race.  As they started to go into line for the Topbetta Von Doussa Steeplchase the clouds started to gather and it appeared that the forecast rain was on the way.  Yesquire soon took up the pacemaker role from Sea Town then Banna Strand, Rabbuka, Lord of the Song and Tobouggie Nights.  Over the fallen log the first time and Yesquire led from Sea town with Lord of the Song along the inside from Man of Class and Rabbuka as the jumpers settled into stride.  Little changed over the next lap with Yesquire still well in front the second time over the fallen log from Sea Town with Lord of the Song on the rail with Rabbuka out wider and Man of Class trying to make ground between then from Banner Strand  with Rampur closer to the rail.  Turning for home Lord of the Song took the run inside Yesquire with Man of Class running on from Scenic Buzz and Rabbuka.  Inside the final 200m Lord of the Song hit the front with Man of Class trying hard with Yesquire batting on behind them then a gap to Sea Town.  In teh final 50m Lord of the Song was too strong coming away to win from Man of Class with Yesquire holding third from the fast finishing Scenic Buzz  Such was the quality of the race the field was still tightly packed over the last two fences with just the run to the line spreading them out.  Lord of the Song brought up a training double on the day to Patrick Payne of Victoria.  This race was Lord of the Song debut over the steeplechase fences and took his record over jumps to 13 starts for 6 wins and 6 placings and  50 starts for 10 wins overall.

Tattsbet Oakbank Stakes and it was Periduki who went straight to the early lead from Dee Bee Nine with Dream Face in third followed by Riziz inside Avoid Lightning with Katunga next.  Into the straight Dee Bee Nine joined Periduki with Riziz starting to run on as Hidden Value made a run closer to the rail and Avoid Lighting further out.  Inside the final 50m Riziz hit the from and came away to win from Avoid Lightning with Dee Bee Nine third and Periduki fourth.  A 4yo by Zariz from Priya Riziz took his record to 15 starts for 5 wins and 6 placings.

In The Advertiser Hcp  Medal Contendor made it 8 starts for 4 wins and 2 placings in defeating Out of Coober and Supreme Ruler.        

You may have noticed the sponsors names have been noted throughout this report.  It was mentioned to me that Oakbank sponsors have been receiving a fair bit of email traffic from the anti racing groups so if you use their product and/or have a chance please look up their website and thank them for their sponsorship of this time honoured event.