Steven Pateman had trainer Ciaron Maher’s pre-race guidance resounding as he rode Stern Idol to the bottom of the incline in the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
On Tuesday’s $2.10 elect at the Tozer Road double, Pateman handled the 3450m steeplechase, the marquee attraction on day one of the three-day Warrnambool Carnival.
“When I’m in a race, I can hear Ciaron’s instructions in the back of my mind,” Pateman told racing.com.
“And Ciaron actually said, don’t be dragging him around that turn, a big horse and with that recent rain on the ground.
“He did slip a little bit on the ground, and it was probably lucky that Aaron Lynch booted up (on Castrofrancaru), and I didn’t start pulling him around.”
Tuesday saw Stern Idol pack a current record 75kg to secure the win, exceeding his 73kg carry from the victorious 2024 edition.
Having led to the hill’s base before being headed, Stern Idol seized control again with 1000m to go and held on for a 4-½ length margin over Hit The Road Jack ($2.60), followed by Castrofrancaru ($15) another 2-½ lengths adrift in third place.
Pateman explained that the gelding got a surge when overtaken beyond the Tozer Road double.
“Once they headed him, he said ‘hang on a minute’,” Pateman said.
“He felt like he had 55 kilos on his back, not 75 (kg). He’s a big unit and I’m just lucky.
“He’s super special.”
Maher has a special affinity for Warrnambool returns yearly, having developed there first as a jumps pilot and then managing a compact group at the beach town.
His stable ranks among Australia’s elite in size, but his fondness for jumpers persists, evidenced by Stern Idol delivering his fifth Brierly Steeplechase victory.
Maher owned up to nerves watching the placers dart inside Stern Idol onto the true course but applauded Pateman’s steadiness.
“I was a bit nervous at the bottom of the hill, but Steve was cool, calm and collected,” Maher said.
“He’s been such a good horse over a number of years, and it is a credit to the entire team and the owners as well.”
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