A small but highly competitive benchmark 64 over 1200m for three-year-olds proved a dramatic way to open Grand National Hurdle Day at Sandown-Lakeside on Sunday.
The drama began shortly after the start when the highly regarded Justify (USA) gelding Naval Academy clipped heels, unseating apprentice Luke Campbell.
With less than 100m to run, the Needs Further filly Subrising was still last before unleashing a strong finish under Robbie Downey to defeat the sensationally backed Better Than Ready gelding Let's Get Down by a nose. The Bolt D’Oro (USA) filly Elderberry was a length back in third.
Trainer Nigel Blackiston thought highly enough of Subrising to make her career debut in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude at Sandown-Hillside in February. Last early, Subrising was doing her best work in the final 100m despite a checkered run. At her following start Subrising again finished solidly for fourth behind Beauty Rising over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside in March.
Blackiston said the stable has a big opinion of the daughter of Needs Further, the longest-priced runner in the field.
“She has always shown very nice ability. She had two runs as a 2yo to give her a bit of race experience,” Blackiston said.
“I bought her here as the ground is a bit softer. I did not want to run her on the synthetic at Ballarat earlier in the week.
“I thought she could come here and run a nice race, and she ran a super race.
“She has nice ability and is still raw with much to learn. She is still a bit on the tubby side, so whatever she did today, she will take benefit from it.
“After my accident, I was feeling a bit sad and down, so I did a bit of retail therapy and bought her as my first weanling.
“I think we paid about $20,000 for her, but she is a lovely style of filly, and there is something special about her.
“She will go through the grades and hopefully make a nice miler.”
Consigned by her breeder Ron Beadle to the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Subrising was a $20,000 purchase for her trainer.
She is the second winner from four to race for the Savoire Vivre (GB) mare Grisbi's Run. A 3-time winner for Redgum Racing, Grisbi's Run died in 2022.
Armidale Stud’s Needs Further (Encosta De Lago) stands at $5,500 in 2023.
