Onwards and upwards

Race winner Amanood Lad with rider Aaron Kuru (left) and fourth placegetter The Oysterman with Hamish McNeill aboard tackle a fence during yesterday’s Wellington Steeplechase at Hastings.

Amanood Lad’s victory was the second half of a memorable winning double for Kuru and home-track trainer Paul Nelson, who combined earlier in the day to win the Wellington Hurdles with The Shackler. Kuru had Amanood Lad travelling comfortably behind the leaders before urging the horse to the lead at the 600m.

"He stayed switched on throughout and there was a gap at the 600m and he shot through," Kuru said.

"I thought I might have got run down but, to his credit, he dug deep and won well. It’s very special — I grew up here."

Similarly, Kuru went for home at the 600m on The Shackler, though the hurdler had been leading. When Kuru said go, The Shackler raced away and left his rivals in his wake to win by more than four lengths.