Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has some of the best racehorses in the country in his care and while the likes of Pride of Jenni and Bella Nipotina get all the headlines, it was champion jumper Stern Idol (IRE) earning all the plaudits on Sunday with a facile 10 length romp in the $150,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown.
An eight year-old Irish bred gelding by Raven’s Pass that came to Australia in 2021 following some early racing in France that produced two wins and some pretty handy efforts in hurdle races, Stern Idol has soared to new heights in his new home.
Carrying the colours of his Australian owner and breeder Gerry Ryan, who races him in partnership with a bunch of close mates, Stern Idol made it back to back wins in the Crisp Steeple with Steve Pateman in the saddle this time following his win in the race last year for William McCarthy.
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A giant of a horse standing well over 17 hands, Stern Idol has the overall record of 12 wins from 29 starts with prizemoney topping $680,000 and Steve Pateman believes there are more wins in store.
Stern Idol is the best of three winners from Authorized mare Screen Icon (IRE), an unplaced full sister to imported stayer Signoff (IRE), who won multiple Group staying races in Australia for Gerry Ryan and partners.
Screen Icon is now also in Australia and arrived in foal to high class sire Night of Thunder with a colt from that mating selling for $100,000 at Inglis Premier in 2023.
She has fillies to follow by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Lucky Vega (IRE) and appears to be in foal to Wooded (IRE).
