Banna Strand goes from horror to hero at Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase From five lengths behind at the last jump, Banna Strand catches Man Of Class and Dhaafer in the straight to win the Grand Annual Banna Strand jumped a 3m fence into the crowd watching Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeple in 2011. Today it won the event. BANNA Strand, the jumper who made international headlines when he careered over a giant fence and into the crowd two years ago, today added his name to the honour roll as winner of the famous Grand Annual Steeplechase. The nine year old negotiated the 33 fences and took until the last few strides of the 5500m to score by three quarters of a length from locally-trained Man Of Class, who was denied the honour of becoming the first galloper to win the Great Eastern, Grand National and Grand Annual. His trainer, Ciaron Maher, was the first to congratulate canny New Zealand trainer John Wheeler, who celebrated his fifth success in the $253,000 event. Banna Strand ($7.50) sat at the tail of the seven horse field for the first circuit but was taken to the outside fence entering the straight by Gavin Bedggood and relentlessly ran down the equal $4.20 favourites Man Of Class and Dhaafer, who was only a length away third. End Of Time fell at the 21st jump and Cash Advance ran off and dislodged his jockey at the second jump at Tozer Road when leading. Horses and jockeys were uninjured. Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Banna Strand, ridden by Gavin Bedggood, is second from the right. Cash Advance throws jockey Aaron Lynch in the white. Picture: Ian Currie Source: Herald Sun Wheeler, 62, said he was so proud of the horse and rider. "The horses are brave, the jockeys are brave, and the trainers are crazy," he said. In an amazing race, the five remaining runners all jumped the third last fence together, but Banna Strand showed the best staying ability. He is a great jumper. Wheeler said there was a story behind every Grand Annual winner, but Banna Strand certainly was one of the most unusual. He said he never considered withdrawing from jumps racing, even when Banna Strand injured seven people when he jumped a two metre fence two years ago. Five people were injured when a horse leapt a fence at a Warrnambool race meeting and landed in the crowd I rang all of the seven injured people. They had been contacted by lawyers wanting to represent them for free, but they would have none of it. It just shows real racing people are fair dinkum. They said it was an accident and part of the sport. Banna Strand had won only two races in 66 starts before today's biggest success. Bedggood said every jockey waited for this race every year and the victory was extra special because of the circumstances. It is fitting this horse gets his name up on the winner's list after the incident two years ago. He is a great jumper and he has given me and John and everyone who loves racing a great thrill. The crowd of more than 15,000 stood to applaud the winner, and the other rivals, as the jockeys shook hands after one of the most memorable Grand Annuals in the 139 year history of the event. There were no protests or visible signs of anti-jumping campaigners.