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Live sport on SN this weekendChampion jumps jockey returns for Grand National
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 7th, 2026 3:19 pm
Champion jumps jockey Shaun Fannin will reunite with Happy Star in Saturday's Grand National Hurdles (4200m) | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Champion jumps jockey Shaun Fannin had intended on competing at Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing this week, but not as a rider.
The Palmerston North horseman has become synonymous with the winter jumps carnival, particularly through his deeds with ill-fated champion jumper West Coast, who he guided to three consecutive victories in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) and two wins in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m).
Earlier this year Fannin decided to call time on his decorated riding career to focus on his growing Awapuni stable, which he operates with his wife, Hazel.
While the couple were without their top jumpers Jesko and Fourty Eight this winter, they were excited about their new stable addition Weneedashock, who was a dominant 12-1/4 length victor in his maiden hurdle at Te Aroha in June in the hands of Kylan Wiles.
The Fannins set their sights toward Riccarton’s jumping carnival in August, however, with Wiles serving a suspension and limited alternative riders, Shaun Fannin elected to come out of retirement to ride Weneedashock at Te Aroha late last month to get a gauge on the gelding.
Weneedashock finished fourth, and his trainers ultimately decided to bypass heading to Christchurch this year.
“He went well at Te Aroha but we got a fair bit of rain the day before and I don’t think he likes those really heavy, deep tracks, which it was up there,” Shaun Fannin said. “He stuck on well for fourth and we were more than happy with that.
“We just thought it was a big step going to Riccarton, he probably just needs another run before taking on the real big guns.”
While Fannin decided against the trip to Christchurch with Weneedashock, the champion jockey’s return to the saddle wasn’t left unnoticed, and he received a call from Otaki trainer Johno Benner, who part-owns the Kevin Myers-trained Happy Star, to see if he would ride the top jumper in the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton.
Fannin has had a good association with the son of Fabulous, having ridden him to victories in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) and Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m), and a runner-up result in the Grand National Hurdles, and after some consideration, he decided to accept the invitation to ride this Saturday.
“I am really looking forward to it,” Fannin said. “I am just going to ride Happy Star. Will Featherstone rode him last start and had an injury, so Johno said if I was interested then he would get me on him. I have ridden him plenty of times before.
“I blew the cobwebs out at Te Aroha so I feel I am up to doing the job on Saturday. Hazel and I are working pretty hard at home, so my weight is probably the best it has ever been.”
Happy Star heads into Saturday in good form, having won two and placed in two of his last four starts, including victories in the Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) and Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3000m).
“He is in very good form, he beat everything in this field in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle,” Fannin said. “He has a big weight (70kg) to carry but I think he is in as good a form as he has ever been in.
“He had a really good run on the flat at Waverley not long ago after the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle win, so I think he is right at the top of his game. It would be special to get a good result on Saturday, and we will be there to give it our all.”
While looking forward to Saturday, Fannin said it is just circumstances that has led to his return to the saddle and he intends only riding his own runners in the future if a rider shortage arose.
“We do have a few riders there but at Te Aroha last week there were six that were unavailable through suspension or injury,” Fannin said. “When you have got 10-horse fields, taking six away is a pretty big knock.
“In the back of our mind for any horse that we have, if I have to be ready to go then I guess I am going to have to be.
“I am fit and ready to go if it arose. I rode my horse through circumstances at Te Aroha and then this opportunity came up, and I feel like I am still up to the job, and that is why I took the ride. At this stage, I am not really looking to do it (return to regular raceday riding).”
Meanwhile, Weneedashock had a pleasing trial over a mile at Foxton earlier this week and Fannin said he will likely head to Woodville next Sunday for his next race.
“He had a quiet trial at Foxton on Tuesday where he went well,” Fannin said. “I am pretty sure that he will give a good account of himself at Woodville on the 16th.”
