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Proven stablemates set for Koral
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 30th, 2025 2:50 pm
Trainer Dan O'Leary pictured with Te Kahu | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
There is no shortage of serious contenders in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), and Marton trainer Dan O’Leary will saddle two of those in Te Kahu and Captains Run.
Captains Run made the journey south last year, finishing third in both the Koral and Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), while his talented stablemate and former Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) winner Te Kahu was recovering from a minor injury that put him out after winning the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4900m) in July.
The pair will have their first attempt over the bigger fences in 2025, with Te Kahu coming into the National carnival off the back of two flat runs and an impressive jumping trial at Cambridge. After seeing his performance in the latter, O’Leary was satisfied with his condition heading south.
“We took him to a jumping trial and he went quite well there,” O’Leary said. “He was full of running and Nick Downs (jockey) said he was he was hard to pull up after two rounds, he wanted to do another.
“He’s still got plenty of enthusiasm, so we thought, while he’s in good order and good form, we’ll bring him down.
“I’m hoping for a nice, competitive run, hopefully he’s running on at the end ahead of the National.”
As with Te Kahu, the main goal for Captains Run is the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), run seven days later at the Riccarton venue.
The versatile son of Nom du Jeu gave a sight when second over hurdles at Woodville, a run that pleased O’Leary particularly when knowing the flat ability of the winner (Quid).
“It was a good effort, the Myers’ horse is quite a nice horse so we’re happy with that,” he said.
“We know he can cope with the distance and he should be in with a good chance I think.”
Downs will continue his association with Te Kahu, while Joshua Parker, this season’s premiership-winning hoop, takes the ride aboard Captains Run. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
