As a Warrnambool stalwart, trainer Aaron Purcell is always looking forward to the annual Three-Day Carnival in the seaside town each May.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase is the feature of the Carnival and Purcell, as a former winner with Ginolad in 2008, would love nothing more than to add another trophy to his cabinet.
Purcell has recently returned from the UK where he purchased an Irish-bred jumper that he hopes will give him a second win and break the stranglehold that the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, Patrick Payne and Symon Wilde have had on the race in recent years.
“The object of the trip was to try and buy a horse that we could target the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival with next year with the Grand Annual in mind,” Purcell said.
“We think we’ve found a horse that is good enough to do the job, so it’s up to me now not to stuff it up, getting him there in one piece.”
Purcell was able to secure Crosshill, who has done all his racing over jumps, for around $150,000.
The gelding raced 11 times in Ireland for two wins and four placings and is the fourth UK purchase Purcell has made.
“The first one ran third in the Annual, the second one won a National, and the third one won a race on the flat at Flemington, but I never went jumping with him,” Purcell said.
“The two that jumped were around the mark, but I think this one is a better horse.
“He was a last start winner at the Punchestown Festival. He’s a second season jumper, lightly raced and he’s not a horse that is past his best and still has a lot of racing left in him.
“He’s been competitive from two miles to three miles, he’s been competitive on firm and soft.
“He wasn’t cheap, but he’s a good horse.
“If he can win the Annual and the Grand National, they’re both worth $350,000, you don’t have to win too many and come out on top.”