Sixth Great Northern Steeplechase win

White Robe Lodge sires have now left the winner of the richest jumping race in New Zealand, the Great Northern Steeplechase, on six occasions. The four individual winners have all been bred by the Anderton family and belong to the equine family tracing to Princess Mellay.

Wise Men Say gave deceased WRL sire Yamanin Vital his sixth prestige race win for the jumps season when successful in the $125,000 race over 25 fences and 6400m at Ellerslie on Saturday (9/9/2017).

Wise Man Say had also won the $50,000 McGregor Grant Steeple at Ellerslie in June. Yamanin Vital also sired Upper Cut($75,000 New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase for the second time), Ready Eddie ($75,000 NZ Grand National Hurdles and $50,000 Ken Browne Hurdle) and The Oysterman ($50,000 Manawatu Steeple) during the 2017 jumps season.

Wise Man Say was bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton and Eric Parr and sold for $37,500 as a 2yr-old at the 2011 South Island sale. Brian and Lorraine also bred Ready Eddie (ex Tawnce) and The Oysterman (ex Clear As A Bell). Wise Me Say is the last foal of Vaguely Famous, by Famous Star from Tiara, by Noble Bijou - Princess Mellay, by Mellay.

Yamanin Vital is also the sire of Hypnotize (ex Auburn Rose), winner of the Northern Steeple in 2007, 08 and 10.  Hypnotize was bred by Brian and Lorraine and Hec Anderton.  Our Jonty (Random Chance - Lal's Gift), bred by the Alice Anderton Trust won the Northern in 1998 and Rock Crystal (Native Turn - Princess Mellay), bred by Alice Anderton (mother of Brian and Hec), raced by her estate and trained by Hec, won in 1986. Random Chance and Native Turn both stood at WRL.

Wise Men Say is trained at Wanganui by owners Raymond and Mark Connors, who also raced Hypnotize and Our Jonty. Wise Men Say was ridden by Isaac Lupton, who partnered Hypnotize. Raymond Connors rode Our Jonty.