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Coleraine is said to host the oldest continuously run race in Australasia, the Great Western Steeple.

Lincoln Farms’ pair can open Sunday’s historic Coleraine jumps meeting on a high

Barry Lichter

By Barry Lichter • 12 August 2023

Plenty of colour surrounded the early runnings of Coleraine’s Great Western.

In 1859, when the steeple was run over four miles with 27 jumps for a purse of 500 sovereigns, the club’s archives reported: “The locals were disappointed that Walkover, the inaugural winner, wasn’t available but they were happy that there were five good jumpers ready to tackle the course. Or at least, they thought there were five. Sadly, two of the jockeys became so intoxicated the night before the event they were in no fit state to ride and their runners were scratched.”

And in 1868: “A new course started from the flat nearly at the back of Nickoll’s Hotel, the line lay towards the pound-yards, over some three or four made fences, into the paddock on the hill, over the lane to the manse, and down on to the flat again, three times round, finishing the third time down the lane, in front of Mr. Fether’s house. The distance, about four and a quarter miles, over 34 fences, was traversed in about thirteen and a half minutes.”

Sunday’s Great Western is run over 3600 metres.

Platinum Spirit and Lincoln King give Lincoln Farms a strong hand in the opening two hurdle races at Coleraine in Victoria on Sunday.

Trainer Kathryn Durden takes the pair to the celebrated country track, 350km west of Melbourne, where later in the day the oldest steeplechase race in Australia will be held, the A$60,000 Great Western, first run in 1858.

A 2000 metre turning and undulating circuit, with a 250 metre slightly uphill home straight, Coleraine has five jumps races carded on its eight-race programme.

And if Durden is right, Lincoln Farms can stamp its mark from the oustet with Platinum Spirit set to dispute favouritism with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Cadre Du Noir.

Platinum Spirit, who has earned more than A$100,000 since being sent to Australia, despite only winning twice, was only just pipped in his hurdle debut at Pakenham on July 23.

He finished seven lengths in front of the hot favourite Cadre Du Noir that day and Durden expects natural improvement from the seven-year-old who had a conditioning run on the flat at Bendigo last start.

“Hopefully he can go one better on Sunday. He has continued to do well and had a jump on Friday morning, jumping well.”

Will Gordon takes the mount again and over 3300 metres the horse will be well fancied to take the A$21,450 winner’s purse.

They don’t stop turning at the left-handed Coleraine course.They don’t stop turning at the left-handed Coleraine course.Eagerly anticipated

Lincoln King makes his eagerly anticipated jumps debut in the following race after finishing second and third in two qualifying trials at Traralgon and Warrnambool.

“On his jumping trials and his flat form he should be very hard to beat,” Durden said.

“He has done well since Flemington and had a school this morning, jumping well and really enjoying it.”

Lincoln King, who boasts the 2022 Wellington Cup among his six wins and A$378,609 bankroll, began his jumping education while still in training with Cambridge’s Stephen Marsh and has developed considerably more under Durden’s tutelage.

Durden tips another jumping debutante in Shakespeare as hardest to beat.

Patrick Payne’s seven-year-old, also a six-race winner on the flat, finished first and third in his two trials, impressing with a 15 length rout over 2400 metres on a heavy Warrnambool course on July 18.

Darryl Horner jun., who pilots Lincoln King, rode a hurdle winner at the Coleraine meeting 12 months ago.

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