Rachael Cunningham could talk for hours about stable star Bee Tee Junior.
The recently turned 12-year-old heads to the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday as a prelude to the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 27.
If successful for a second time in the Grand National Steeplechase, Cunningham would consider retirement for the jumper who will have to finish racing next July anyway.
Cunningham said Bee Tee Junior is one of those horses that comes along rarely for a small stable and the search is on for a replacement.
“He’s the best horse I’ve had, and he’s just ticked over 12 years of age and I keep thinking, ‘how am I going to replace him’,” Cunningham said.
“They don’t come along very often.
“He’s so tough and for a little stable that doesn’t have a budget to go out and buy horses, or import horses, we were very lucky to come across him.
“He’s the best jumper we’ve had and every morning I think to myself we need to find another one of you, but we’re not going to.”
Bee Tee Junior won the Grand National Steeplechase in 2020 and then missed a year of racing courtesy of a tendon injury.
Cunningham said all-the-way through the 2022 jumping season he was a run behind, always playing catch up which was reflected in his form.
She said horses, especially older ones, can struggle post a tendon injury and that was the case with Bee Tee Junior who has had a good season over jumps this year, despite not winning a race.
“His whole prep, every time he does a little bit of work and every time he has a run, he bounces out of it,” Cunningham said.
“I think he is bang on now and by the time we get to the National Chase, he’ll be even better.”
Originally Cunningham had planned to run Bee Tee Junior in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m), also on Sunday, but with 65kg, which is below jockey Darryl Horner’s weight range, the Grand National Hurdle became the option.
“I’m happy with the National Hurdle field and I’m happy he’s in that race as he jumps the hurdles well and is still quite quick over them,” Cunninham said.
“Ideally, I wouldn’t mind some rain and for the track to be wet.
“He loves it bottomless heavy, so they might be a bit quick for him, but it’s a nice race for him on the way through to Ballarat.”