Awakening Dream Smashes the Grand Annual Steeple at Warrnambool, Victoria

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[h=3]Awakening Dream smashes the Grand Annual Steeple[/h]

[h=2]Awakening Dream smashes the Grand Annual Steeple[/h]The 8yo gelding dominated the feature jumps race at Warrnambool, ridden by Jockey Steven Pateman. (0:44 / 2.6MB)

Awakening Dream clears the final hurdle before winning the Grand Annual. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource: Herald Sun CHAMPION jumps jockey Steven Pateman was close to tears as he dismounted from Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Awakening Dream. "I'm a bit of a sook," he said later. Pateman, 28, had plenty of reasons to be emotional at the end of the finest week of his superb career. He won five of the six jumps races at the famous carnival and was a close second in the other. His relentless performance was a major contribution to an uplifting week for the controversial sport to which he devotes his life. Warrnambool Racing Club's forthright new chairman Des Roberts was another who could not hide his emotions after all 12 starters got over all 33 fences before four dropped out of contention only in the closing stages of the 5500m marathon. The contrast with last year, when only two of eight starters finished, could not have been starker. The sighs of relief were loud and long. And with only three harmless incidents in the Brierly Steeplechase and three hurdle events, there was nothing to protest about. [h=2]RECOMMENDED COVERAGE[/h] [h=4]Warrnambool Carnival, Day 3[/h] [h=4]Dream run worth weight for Pateman[/h] [h=4]Perfect Dance partners win Cup[/h] Roberts, in his first major public appearance, took fierce and provocative aim at the previous government's racing minister, Rob Hulls, who was on the verge of banning jumps racing - a disaster for the club and the town. "I wonder where Rob Hulls was today. I hope he was back in his burrow and I hope he saw the greatest race ever that he nearly destroyed," he told the crowd. Pateman provided yet more evidence he is clearly the best exponent of this tough caper by guiding Awakening Dream to a 15-length win, a margin that belied the competitiveness of the race. He admitted to putting a little too much pressure on at the second-last jump, but when the gallant galloper just pulled away regardless, he blew him a kiss in the straight. That was giving the big crowd what they always come for: a bit of theatre. "It was just in appreciation, to be in front for such a long way in a race like this is tough," he said. Pateman is one of those successful people you find in all walks of life who operates on the theory that the harder you work, the luckier you get. He had to waste hard to get down to Awakening Dream's 64kg impost. He is thrilled jumps racing is making a strong comeback. "It is no surprise it is really heading in the right direction. The key thing is to keep evolving ... you have to make things better. Accidents will happen, but we've got to keep learning from the mistakes and produce a spectacle that is entertaining," he said. "It was going in the wrong direction. It was glorified flat racing, but now it is getting back to jumps racing and it shows. ''I am riding with a really good group of young blokes the same age and we all get along as well as being competitive. It's special (because) we are passionate about it. We went through a lot and were criticised a lot, which makes the bond closer. It has been an unreal week - a privilege." Yes, enough to bring a tear to the eye. [email protected] Twitter: @Reedrw