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Gillies eyeing National success a decade on
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 8th, 2025 12:30 pm
Mathew Gillies winning the 2015 Grand National Hurdles (4200m) aboard Tallyho Twinkletoe | Photo: Race Images South
It has been a while between drinks for Mathew Gillies on Grand National Day, but the talented hoop has plenty of firepower heading into this year’s time-honoured Riccarton meeting.
A decade ago, Gillies partnered Tallyho Twinkletoe to a dominant win the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 126th Grand National Hurdles (4200m), the gelding’s first major crown in a storied jumping career. Despite starting favourite, Tallyho Twinkletoe was a talent largely untapped at that stage, and Gillies recalled his surprise when he bolted clear in the straight.
“He showed a lot of potential and had that raw talent, but I didn’t think he would win it so easily,” Gillies said. “He’d won at Rotorua and was quite dominant, but he was up in class and surprised me with how many gears he had.
“You generally know as you’re coming into the 1000m point, and by the 600m, if you’ve still got horse underneath you, then you might be in with a chance. If you’re battling, there’s still a long way to go.
“It was a great win by a very good horse.”
The result was a standout for Gillies, who looked forward to heading south again after taking time away from riding in the last couple of years.
“It’s a real pleasure to ride at Riccarton, particularly when you’re on a good jumper and they’re stepping their fences,” he said.
“We only race there twice a year now (during National Week), which is a bit of a shame, but I’m really happy that they still have the meeting down there.”
His week in Christchurch got off to the perfect start last Saturday, guiding Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s hurdler Dictation to a comfortable 4-1/2 length victory in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m).
Off the back of that effort, Dictation earned equal-favouritism for the National alongside defending champion Berry The Cash, but was ruled out of the race on Wednesday afternoon through a minor injury.
That left Gillies without a mount in the $100,000 feature, but he swiftly got the call-up from Tallyho Twinkletoe’s former trainer Kevin Myers to ride Happy Star.
A stakes performer on the flat, it came as no surprise that Happy Star would excel over fences, and the gelding won the National in his first season of jumping in 2022.
He returned to Riccarton Park the following year and carried topweight to finish second behind Berry The Cash, and after a year off the scene, the son of Fabulous only narrowly went down to Never Look Back in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3000m) in mid-July.
Gillies was rapt to pick up the ride on the 10-year-old and has done his homework with the assistance of Shaun Fannin, who has won four races on the gelding.
“I’ve had a good talk with Shaun Fannin and spoke about the best way to ride this horse and get him jumping well, and he gave me good instructions to aid him,” Gillies said. “Shaun rode him so well a few years ago when he won the Sydenham leading up to the National.
“He ran second in the National that year to Berry The Cash when carrying four kilos more, and this year, he’ll carry six kilos less than him so that’ll be a good advantage for us.
“I’m really happy to be riding for Kevin as I was a stable rider for him ten years ago. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Later in the day, Gillies will reunite with the Nelson/McDougal stable aboard Nedwin, who tackles the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), off the back of a fourth-place finish in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m).
A top-class hurdler, Nedwin recently stepped into the steeplechasing role and impressed Gillies with his progress throughout Saturday’s event, which was won by Jesko.
“He was only having his third steeplechase start so he was a little bit green, but by halfway through the race, he was really loving his work and stepping his fences,” he said. “He was making up ground at most fences, so he learned a lot there.
“He ended up blowing out at the 600m, and if you look between the second-to-last and last fence, he was tired but he came back to challenge them again, which was quite impressive considering he needed that race for fitness.
“I think with a week between the runs and having that fitness, he’ll be a better horse on Saturday. I know there is the extra distance as well, but what he’s done in his hurdling and with his talent, he should be a really good chance.”
Aside from a fall earlier in the season, Gillies has enjoyed being back in the saddle this year, crediting his success largely to the Hastings trainers.
“It’s been great to ride for Paul and Corrina, they are very good trainers and you get confidence riding their horses,” he said. “They are always fit and know how to jump well, which makes my job a lot easier.
“I had a fall at Te Rapa and got kicked in the back ribs and it got my kidney, which took a bit of healing. But, I only took two or three weeks and I was back riding, so other than that, it’s been pretty smooth sailing.
“It’s been good to be back.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
