Keep It Tight provided Invercargill trainer Kelly Thompson with his fifth Great Western Steeplechase success when he ran away to win the 3900m feature by 11 lengths at Riverton yesterday.
The Johar 7yr-old put in an impressive jumping display in the hands of Michael Mitchell to add this year's steeplechase to the Great Western Hurdle title he collected last year.
Thompson has been an ever-present figure in Southland racing for several decades. His first Great Western Steeples win came in 1983 with Belsen's Bank.
His other winners in the time-honoured steeplechase around the testing Riverton circuit are Possum Canyon (1996), Kakapuka (2011) and Lautenschlager (2012).
Mitchell also saluted in the 2500m maiden hurdle on Billy Elliot, a 4yr-old Zed gelding having his first start over jumps following a seven-start flat career which has produced one win. Earlier yesterday, Supercharged held on to win the $20,000 Great Western Hurdle, despite a late bid by Gargamel.
It was Yaldhurst trainer Ross Beckett's second success in the race. He prepared Dan Moran to win with Tane Belsham on board in 2006.
