Geeorb has further strengthened his claims for the $200,000 A V Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley later this month with a comfortable victory in the Ian Macdonald Steeple at Sandown.The eight-year-old made it two from two over the fences this preparation following his St Steven Steeple (3200m) victory at Moonee Valley on June 20 when he led all the way.Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher praised jockey Steven Pateman for his ride on Geeorb after he took a sit behind New Zealander Spirit Of Alat

Geeorb has further strengthened his claims for the $200,000 A V Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley later this month with a comfortable victory in the Ian Macdonald Steeple at Sandown.

The eight-year-old made it two from two over the fences this preparation following his St Steven Steeple (3200m) victory at Moonee Valley on June 20 when he led all the way.

Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher praised jockey Steven Pateman for his ride on Geeorb after he took a sit behind New Zealander Spirit Of Alaton.

"We had a talk about tactics before the race, full credit to him," Maher said.

"He settled well today and it was a super ride by Steven.

"This is my second season of training him and it's a matter of knowing a little bit more about the horse now."

"He likes the (heavy) going and Steven rode him well.

"He'll go to the Hiskens now."

Geeorb ploughed through the going, which was downgraded from a heavy (9) to a heavy (10) after the Macdonald, the opening event on the program.

Sent out the $3 favourite, Geeorb shouldered 68kg and held out the fast-finishing Tainui Teina ($41) by 1-1/2 lengths with Spirit Of Alaton ($5.50) 1-3/4 lengths away third.

The gelding has proven himself to be a bargain buy for owners Garry and Jo Baker who live at Marnoo in Victoria's Wimmera region, a town made famous as the home of former champion square gaiter Maori's Idol.

Baker bought Geeorb, previously owned by OTI Racing, for $5,000 at an Inglis dispersal sale.

"He's a full brother to Team Heritage (2004 Grand National Hurdle winner) and that's why I bought him," Baker said.

"He'd won one of three hurdle starts but he was still a bit weak so after he'd had a few runs I put him in the paddock for 12 months."

When he returned Baker gave him to Maher to train and the gelding has won five of his seven steeplechase starts for him including a nine length win over Jamraan in the Crisp Steeple (4000m) at Flemington in June last year.

Geeorb failed behind Ginolad in the 2008 Grand National (4350m) and behind Some Are Bent in the Hiskens but Baker said the horse jarred up on the good (3) track after in the Crisp.

Baker said he would like to have another crack at the Hiskens and the Crisp before deciding on whether to tackle the Grand National Steeple.

"If he can win a race like the Hiskens we'd look at the Nakayama Grand Jump because he's a fast jumper and the Japanese believe that is the type of horse required for the race," he said.

Jamraan ($51) did a good job to finish fourth on the unsuitably heavy going, just ahead of Zagata ($3.70).

Geeorb could face opposition in the Hiskens from Pentiffic, the winner of the Leslie Short Hurdle at Sandown.

Pentiffic will try to get his steeplechase ticket in a Werribee trial on Monday.