Wanganui trainer and part owner Ray Conners is re-thinking his decision to retire Hypnotize after the remarkable jumper became the first horse to win the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeplechase three times in its 136-year history.
He had previously been one of nine to win the Ellerslie race twice with victories in 2007 and 2008. His only other start in the race was last year when fourth.
Ellerslie is also the venue of New Zealand's richest jumps race, the $85,000 Great Northern Steeplechase and that will be Hypnotize's next assignment on September 4.
Just last week it was reported Conners was adamant Hypnotize would be retired after the Great Northern at the grand age of 11.
But last night he was playing his cards closer to his chest over the question of retirement.
"You never know," he told NZPA.
His father Mark, who shares in the ownership, said the Great Northern would be the horse's swan song before adding "at this stage".
Mark Conners said retirement had been considered for Hypnotize after last year's Great Northern but following a second placing regular jockey Isaac Lupton suggested a re-think.
"If he had won he probably would have been retired. But he ran second and Isaac said don't retire him...bring him back,".
Hypnotize took out the Great Northern in 2007 and 2008 and the Conners' are mindful that only one other horse has won the race three times - Hunterville, which completed the hat-trick in 1985.
Ellerslie and its demanding hill course seems to bring out the best in Hypnotize with a record of five wins and a second from seven starts.
Hypnotize's affinity with the track was underlined yesterday. It was his first start over fences since last year's Great Northern, he had had just three flat races to fit him for the race and was lumped with topweight of 70kg.
Mark Conners said with Hypnotize's position in the weights there was little point racing the horse in lesser jumps races.
"We didn't want to run him around for nothing. Ellerslie suits him and we just decided to stick to Ellerslie. The hill brings out the best in his stamina."
Lupton is almost making the Pakuranga Hunt Cup his own. He has ridden Hypnotize in each of his three wins in the race and has two further successes aboard Bart in 2005 and Real Tonic in 2006. He has had nine rides in the race for five wins, a second, a third and a fourth.
Hypnotize, a gelding by Yamanin Vital, was purchased by the Conners' for $20,000 at the 2001 South Island Sales for two-year-olds.
He now has earned stakes of $316,000 and one reason connections might put off retirement is he remains lightly raced. He did not start racing until a rising six-year-old and his 12 wins and seven minor placings come from just 37 starts.
Lupton's patience was probably a key in yesterday's win. Hypnotize was still 10 lengths in arrears as leader Kousso surged clear coming down the hill for the last time and looked set for victory at the top of the straight.
Kousso still had a clear lead after jumping the last fence but Hypnotize seemed to slip into another gear and easily ran past Kousso to score by six lengths as a $7.40 third favourite.
Kousso held second by a length from second favourite Brushman who ran on well after being back most of the way. Favourite Fair King was 12 lengths away fourth after being handy throughout the 4900m over 20 fences.
