Progressive jumper Platinum Spirit opens favourite for Ballarat hurdle on Sunday

Platinum Spirit has opened favourite as he attempts to end the jumping season in Victoria on a high at Ballarat on Sunday.

The seven-year-old is a $2.80 top fancy in the fixed odds market for the third race on a programme that features the A$400,000 Grand National Steeplechase.

Just out of the novice grade, with a last-start win at Coleraine, Platinum Spirit contests a A$50,000 hurdle, over a slightly longer 3600 metres, which trainer Kathryn Durden believes will suit the horse.

“He should run well,” Durden said. “The horse has done everything that has been asked of him and I’m very happy with him.”

Campbell Rawiller in action on Circle The Sun.Platinum Spirit will have a change of rider on Sunday, Durden opting to engage promising youngster Campbell Rawiller.

Rawiller, 21, a son of top jockey Nash Rawiller, made an instant impact on the jumping scene when he won at his first hurdle ride in April on Circle The Sun who went on to win the Australian Hurdle for him in May. Rawiller won six of his first 14 jumps rides.

Rawiller replaces Platinum Spirit’s regular rider Will Gordon who was having trouble choosing between a number of mounts in Sunday’s race - he also rode race rival Rising Renown to win at Coleraine.

“Will wasn’t committing, he had a few options, and when Campbell was available I thought getting 3kg off (his 71.5kg) would help.”

But Gordon, who is on third fancy Rider In The Snow ($4.80), will have plenty of respect for Platinum Spirit after their debut hurdles second and four and three-quarter length win at Coleraine, one of three hurdle winners he rode that day.

Gordon said afterwards he believed the horse would make a nice jumper next season for owners Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street.

“Platinum Spirit can go through the grades, I think he’s definitely a progressive horse,” Gordon said.

Ballarat is a big, roomy course with a circumference of 1900 metres and a home straight of 450 metres.Durden agrees: “His jumping has been really good and if he can keep going forward he’ll have a good future.

“The only thing he needs to learn is to settle a bit more, he can be a bit keen at times. We’ll see how he goes at hurdling but he jumps well and could possibly end up chasing.”

Durden places no weight on the fact that Sunday’s second favourite Jekyll’N’Hyde ($4 in to $3.50) ran four seconds faster in his Coleraine win than Platinum Spirit.

“Times can be misleading. I think Platinum Spirit would have been equally as competitive in that race. More speed could actually suit our horse better.”

So too could the roomier Ballarat track, its 1900 metre circumference and 450 metre straight a far cry from the continually turning Coleraine circuit with its 250 metre home run.

Wells (Craig Durden) on his way to winning the 2016 National at Ballarat.Platinum Spirit will spell for eight weeks after his Ballarat run, going into spring quarters with earnings of A$131,490 since he arrived in Australia early in 2022.

He has been remarkably consistent, with three wins, six seconds and three thirds from 18 starts for Durden.

Durden lines up Contradeel an $81 outsider in the National but he will have his work cut out staying in sight of hot favourite Stern Idol, a 25 length winner of the Crisp Steeples at his last start.

Durden won the National in 2014 and 2016 with the brave jumper Wells, ridden by her partner Craig.

Platinum Spirit races at 3.15pm NZ time at Ballarat in Victoria on Sunday.