The testing track conditions at Rotorua on Sunday posed no issue for Rudy Liefting’s jumpers, with Mont Ventoux and Renegade Fighter securing the two open contests by sizable margins.

The Pukekohe Park horseman struck first in the Team Wealleans Hurdle (3000m) with Mont Ventoux, a capable seven-win flat performer who has been a model of consistency in the hurdling role with a win and nine placings to his credit.

Entering the open contest, Mont Ventoux was rated a $8.10 third-favourite in a market dominated by previously unbeaten jumper Helena Baby at $1.60, but it became apparent as the field negotiated the fences in the home straight that the favourite wasn’t jumping with his typical flair, eventually being pulled out of the contest with 1000 metres remaining.

Meanwhile, Mont Ventoux had been biding his time under Jay Kozaczek and stormed into contention at the 800 metres, putting a significant space on the field that only continued to extend as he eased his way to a dominant victory, the final margin over 20 lengths to Mugshot.

Liefting was thrilled with the performance, particularly to pick up momentum ahead of feature targets.

“He was good and won well, I’m very happy with him,” he said.

“I told Jay not to take on the grey horse (Helena Baby) that likes to lead, just sit back and focus on his jumping and doing things right.

“It’s great to see him jumping so well, it took a while and we were very patient with him but he’s standing off his fences a bit more and relaxing in his races. He’s pretty much the complete package now.

“There’s only two big ones left, the Pakuranga Hunt and the Great Northern, so after winning like that it shows we’re coming right at the right time.”

A son of Nom De Jeu, Mont Ventoux was bred by Bruce Davies, who races the nine-year-old in an ownership group including Liefting’s Kakapo Lodge Ltd. He is out of Davies’ Lord Ballina mare Good Reason, who also produced three-win steeplechaser Coconut.

“Bruce has been a long-term owner for me. I broke the horse in as a late two-year-old and told him that I quite liked this horse and to keep him, he’s a lovely big type,” Liefting said.

“He’s been sound and is no champion, but he’s won a Kiwifruit Cup and a couple of open handicaps so he’s done a good job.

“Bruce had a couple of young ones coming along this year and decided to split a half-share in him, so we took 20% and a few of our friends and owners got together for the rest. We’re having a lot of fun with him now as a jumper.”

Liefting’s contender in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers Limited & Rotorua BOP Hunt Cup (3500m), Renegade Fighter, flew under the radar in comparison to his stablemate rated a $17.10 hope, but that didn’t stop him replicating a similar feat in the open steeplechase contest.

A ten-year-old by Zed, Renegade Fighter was previously a maidener over fences and travelled quietly at the back of the field in the hands of Kozaczek, before cruising up to the leaders nearing the 800 metres.

Taking over from the well-performed Hey Happy near the home turn, Renegade Fighter skipped through the ground with ease and his rivals were no match, winning by seven lengths to Dal Kilchoan.

Liefting had been forced to place Renegade Fighter in open company due to issues securing a jockey, a problem he will be unlikely to face again after such a classy display.  

“I’m just rapt with this horse,” he said.

“I’ve had a fair bit of trouble with him because no one would ride him, only Nick Downs and Joshua Parker would ride him previously.

“I had to put him in races I didn’t want too, that’s how he ended up in open company instead of a maiden. I’ve been using my other horse (Mont Ventoux) as a bargaining chip, I told the jockeys that they can get the ride on both because they all want to get on him.

“I’ve been telling the jockeys that this is a good horse, and I finally got him on a heavy track where he could show his best.

“I won’t have any trouble finding one (a jockey) now.”

Liefting purchased Renegade Fighter as a jumping prospect earlier this year, racing him alongside Donna and Robert Best.

“I bought him off another trainer at Pukekohe at the beginning of the season because I thought he could make a nice jumper, and his previous owner wanted to see him jumping,” he said.

“He wants more ground and plenty of rain, so I’m going to give him a go at one of the bigger steeplechases. I might even go at the Great Northern Steeples, because the further he goes, the better.”