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FWC: FRA v IRQ, 8am on SN ExtraLord Spencer dominant in maiden steeplechase triumph
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • June 22nd, 2026 3:33 pm
Lord Spencer pictured on his way to winning at Te Aroha on Sunday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Lord Spencer didn’t let the inclement weather rain on his parade at Te Aroha on Sunday, with the exciting jumper running out a dominant victor in the W L Robinson Livestock Steeplechase (3500m).
The eight-year-old gelding was runner-up when making his steeplechase debut at the Waikato track earlier this month, and punters were confident he could go one better three weeks later, backing him into an even money favourite.
Under a patient ride by Lemmy Douglas, Lord Spencer raced towards the rear of the field during the early stages before he gradually inched his way forward throughout the 3500m contest.
Jockey Kylan Wiles served it up to his rivals aboard the Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained Jakama Krystal, setting a solid tempo upfront and opened up a healthy gap through the mid stages of the race.
Lord Spencer and Leitrim Lad ate into that lead, with the pair heading the mare with 500m to go and they entered the straight on even terms, but Lord Spencer was still full of running and bounced away to score by 6-1/2 lengths.
Trainer JJ Rayner was pleased with the victory but admitted she was a bit nervous when heavy showers passed over Te Aroha earlier in the day.
“I was a little bit concerned following the big shower of rain we had, which made the track a bit wetter, and I was hoping it wasn’t too greasy, but he got around there as safe as anything and jumped beautifully,” she said.
“In some of those longer races he has a bit of a lull and he goes back, and he kicks off when he feels like it. This time he really got on his bike and got going. He has a good turn of foot at the end when he is asked.
“It was a perfect ride from Lemmy, they get on really well together. He knows the horse inside out, and he couldn’t have ridden him better.”
With a maiden steeplechase victory under his belt, Lord Spencer will now head towards some prestige steeplechase races, with the ultimate aim of heading to Riccarton in August for the Grand National Festival of Racing.
“We just wanted to get through yesterday and see how everything went,” Rayner said. “He travelled home beautifully, pulled up really well and ate everything last night.
“He will head to the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase in a few weeks, and all going well, we will go down to the National,” Rayner said.
Rayner said Lord Spencer is a pleasure to have in the stable and makes getting up out of bed on cold, winter mornings a lot easier.
“He is like the family pet,” she said. “My sister, Claire, does all the riding on him. It is a team effort and everyone likes him, he is an easy horse to do everything with.”
Meanwhile, Rayner is looking forward to heading to Trentham on Saturday with Tutin Cans, who will contest the Wellington Hurdle (3200m) after winning his maiden hurdle at the Upper Hutt track a fortnight ago.
“He pulled up really well after his win,” Rayner said. “He is a horse that doesn’t take a lot of racing, and he is not the biggest eater, but he has come through the run really well and eaten really well, for him.
“We are going to push on and head to the Wellington Hurdle on Saturday. It is a big step up but we didn’t really have anywhere else to go.”
