Every Harry Potter fan knows that the phoenix is a legendary bird that dies by bursting into flames – and then returns to life when it’s dying tears touch the ashes.
Not that long ago, you would have been forgiven for thinking that jumps racing was headed for oblivion, but, just like the phoenix, the jumping game is back, better and brighter than ever. One classic indicator has been this week’s press and social media coverage of an amazing bit of horsemanship by New Zealand’s leading jumps jockey, Aaron Kuru. For those who haven’t seen the video of last Saturday’s steeplechase at Awapuni, it was simply unbelievable. Kuru, and his mount Des De Jeu, came down at the first fence of a 3200-metre event on a very heavy track. And make no mistake, down they did come! The horse was literally on his side; Kuru was out of the saddle and sliding along the ground alongside the horse. But, he kept hold of the reins, and, under the rules of jumps racing that meant that he hadn’t lost contact with the horse. Des De Jeu, somehow, got his legs underneath himself as he slid along the turf, and Aaron Kuru somehow leveraged himself back onto the horse as the horse regained his footing. It was very clear that Kuru had hit the deck – there was mud on the backside of his breeches!
So there it was. Des De Jeu had lost about eight lengths, Kuru had no irons over the second fence, but they were still in the race. What a race it turned out to be. By the time the third fence came up, Kuru had his irons back, but Des De Jeu was then last, some ten lengths behind the leader and favourite, Gagarin. By the time the field reached the fifth fence, Des De Jeu was running third, and was looking pretty tired. But, with 400 metres to go, Gagarin cleared out to a two-length lead, with Des De Jeu whacking away in second place. Gagarin still had that two-length break over the last fence, with only 150 metres to go to the finish. Somehow, from somewhere, Des De Jeu and Aaron Kuru dug up the stamina and sheer guts to wear down Gagarin and pass the post about a length clear and the winner!
I know that it was a humble Maiden Steeplechase in New Zealand, but in terms of sheer horsemanship, guts and determination, that ride, and that horse’s performance, was storybook stuff.
Jumps racing has always been my first love in racing. The tactics, the courage of horse and rider, and the sight of a jumps field streaming over the fences have always given me a buzz that flat racing can’t quite match. And yes, I do understand that it is often the slower flat racers that turn to a jumps career. But that can often be the making of a racing superstar.
In the old days, jumps racing was largely limited to the Southern states and the colder months, although I can remember the traditional Cup Day Hurdle at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. It’s quite true that jumps racing needs softer tracks, and it’s quite true that the issues surrounding jumps racing very nearly caused the closure of the sport. But, just like the phoenix rising from the ashes, the jumping fraternity took a good hard look at the issues, recognised that changes had to happen, and got off their backsides and made the changes happen.
The changes needed were obvious to those in the game. The jumps, both hurdles and steeples, needed redesigning to take the worst danger factors out of play. Hurdles used to be wooden battens, now they are brushes. Steeples used to demand a clearance jump, now the horses can skim through the top of steeples. Training methods changed, and jockey education became a priority. The end result has been a much safer sport, without taking away any of the spectacle or colour, and much of the ill-informed ranting about the morality of jumps racing has, if not stopped, at least diminished.
Jumps racing will always be the smaller part of racing. That’s as it should be. But jumps racing will always have a place, and rides like Aaron Kuru’s will make sure that the romance of jumping will continue to add to the overall racing scene. Maybe the stewards should check out Kuru’s whip? Remember, Harry Potter did lose his magic wand in one of the stories …….