Stern Idol drew comparisons to Australia’s greatest-ever horse over fences by setting a weight-carrying record in winning a second Brierly Steeplechase (3450m), bearing 75kg at Warrnambool on Tuesday.

Last out of the gates, the venerable nine-year-old had trucked through to take the front by the time the field reached the second fence.

He led until the Tozer Road Double, a pair of fences at the 1250m, where he went wide and fell to fourth place.

But by the time the leaders took the third last at the 750m, Stern Idol ($2.10f) was back in front and met the final fence with a three-length buffer over Castrofrancaru ($16) and Hit The Road Jack ($2.65).

That margin soon grew to four lengths and despite looking a tired horse up the long Warrnambool run-in, the Irish-bred son of Raven’s Pass held a four-and-a-half-length advantage over Hit The Road Jack.

It was the gelding’s 15th jumps victory in Australia since arriving from Europe in 2022, announcing himself as the nation’s best chaser since Crisp in the 1960s.

He also became a millionaire and defied many who thought the 75kg impost would be too heavy having borne 73kg two years prior.

His trainer Ciaron Maher, now best known for his flat horses, has been a long-time conditioner over obstacles and marvelled at the horse’s condition.

“The team have done a super job with him at Ballarat – they know him so well, inside and out,” Maher said.

“Look at the horse. He looks absolutely fantastic. He’d walk into the mounting yard in the middle of spring and not look out of place.

“He’s just been such a good horse for so many years and it’s a credit to the team and the owners as well.”

Maher has had a long association with winning jockey Steven Pateman, who is renowned as the best of jumps hoops.

“Super ride. Cool. I was a bit nervous at the bottom of the hill, but Steve was obviously cool, calm, collected,” Maher said.

“We go back to the start for us. It doesn’t go back much further than that,

“Steve’s a great mate and Steve is fitter than he’s been any other year, so I think he’s just come good after 20 years and he put on a clinic, so well done.”

This connection is not lost on Pateman, who can feel Maher in his rides.

“When I’m in a race, I can hear Ciaron’s instructions in the back of my mind,” Pateman said.

“Ciaron actually said, ‘don’t be dragging him around that turn; he’s a big horse and there’s recent rain in that ground.’

“And he did slip a bit behind, so it is a bit lucky when Lynchy (Arron Lynch, Castrofrancaru) booted up that I didn’t start pulling him around.

“But once they headed him, he was like, ‘hey, hang on a minute’ and just (took off). He felt like he had 55 kilos on his back.

“He just carries it. He’s a big unit and I’m just bloody lucky.

“He’s super special. Shoutout to Willie McCarthy, who has retired. He won a Brierly on him when I was rubbed out (suspended). We’re very lucky to have him in Ciaron’s care and get the ride on him.”

+ Yellow Brick ($3.50jf) sat just off the pace and unveiled a terrific turn of foot to race past the leaders, holding off Anemacore ($20), Boomtown Boss ($10) and Tavs ($23) to win the delayed renewal of the 2026 Archer (1300m) slot race at Queensland’s Rockhampton circuit on Tuesday.