The winner of the Prestige Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) was the warm favourite easily in Magic Wonder, which has been a revelation this season as late as a steeplechaser. The winners and where they came from on the home turn in race order were fifth (seven-off the inside and three lengths off the leaders), fifth (ten-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), led (seven-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), third (eight-off the inside and length and a quarter from the leader), sixth (five-off then inside and two and a half lengths the leader), led (seven-off the inside and seven lengths ahead), third (four-off the inside and a head from the leader), fourth (seven-off the inside and a length from the leader), sixth (eight-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader) and fourth (seven-off the inside and length and a half from the leader). Magic Wonder raced fifth early but his rider Shaun Fannin could not hold her and he wisely went up and took the front two laps out and never relinquished the role despite all sorts going on behind him. The 8yo mare won by nine lengths in 7:42.47 to record her seventh win in forty-seven starts of which five have come as a steeplechaser. Three of those jumps wins came this season in her last four outings and all came here at Ellerslie starting with an easy win over 4190m and then came a comfortable Prestige win in the Pakuranga Hunt (4900m) before today's easy romp. The mare has been a revelation for trainer Jo Rathbone this season and she now has the honour of having ridden a Great Northern Steeplechase winner (Just The Man in 2005) and having trained one too. She now also has the two fastest times in the event too having set the record as a rider in 2005 and being the second fastest this year as a trainer. Napoleon ran on gamely for second and was one of just four left standing in the race after all sorts of happenings. The original field of eight lost three runners 3200m from home when two fell (Grinner and Wise Men Say) and Southern Cool was brought down in. Perry Mason lost his rider at the first of the stand double the second time around and sadly had to be euthanased with a fractured right shoulder. Napoleon was actually sixth when the initial carnage ensued and was last mostly still of four until moving into second just before the home turn. Shamal raced seventh then got left third up the hill the second time before moving into second then he was third the hill the last time and drifting to be last at the 600m before passing one the final 75m. Des De Jeu settled down last before improving second the outer and was there mostly until the final 450m when overtaken into third and then got passed late to be last of the finisher's home. Magic Wonder has been a revelation this season and like the Great Northern Hurdle winner won three of their last four events culminating in today. The field was poor today overall and has been for several seasons now. The peak of this race was when the great Hunterville won it three times in a row (1983-85) and to packed stands and record audiences with barely a clear vantage point available for the great race.