Racing: Irish jockey puts 'Lexus' into cruise mode in Hastings steeplechase

Gary Walsh, riding Just Ishi, fists the air as they enter the birdcage after winning the $50,000 HB Steeplechase over 4800m in Hastings today. Photo/Warren Buckland

The ceremony at the birdcage had momentarily come to a halt as organisers scurried off to find winning jockey Gary Walsh who had ridden Just Ishi to victory in Hastings today.

Someone returned from the jockeys' changing rooms to declare Walsh had "run away", almost in the same fashion as Nells Belle who had ditched jockey Shaun Fannin off her back to cross the line ahead of him and Just Ishi in the feature $50,000 Hawke's Bay Hunt Day premier jumps race meeting.

The 37-year-old Walsh wasn't in the next race after the $50,000 marquee cup race but it didn't matter as trainer Gail Temperton, of Awapuni, and sister Cheryl Robinson, of Foxton, celebrated their victory in a field of seven.

When approached after others had delivered speeches amid klinking of wine glasses in the winner's circle, Walsh said he was in the inquiry room giving evidence on a rider from the previous race, where he was riding the Temperton-trained Cullister.

It was a win-win situation for Walsh who "got off" from the stipendiary stewards' grilling and also comfortably rode Just Ishi to victory a race later.

He felt Just Ishi travelled "perfect" all the way in the 4800m Animal Health Direct-sponsored Hawke's Bay Steeplechase.

"Just like a Lexus. I've only driven a Lexus once," he said with a grin of the metal beast that hails from the luxury division of Japanese car maker Toyota.

Familiarity with the 9-year-old brown gelding, out of Ishihguru, is how Walsh put it, as one would in effortlessly changing a floor-shift gear of a vehicle.

"Aw, I put a lot of pressure on myself so there's no pressure from Gail or anyone else so I'm kind of glad it's all over, actually," said Walsh in his sort of homogenised Irish accent before adding: "We play cricket [in Ireland] as well."

"It was never an issue of falling back or falling out of contention but just to put himself there in the whole race."

Oh what about the British and Irish Lions tonight, Walsh?

Too late as the jockey, who has been plying his trade here since 2005, had scampered off into the bowels of the Hylton Smith Members' Stand.

It was Walsh's fourth victory under Temperton's tutelage, the last of five today, from 24 starts in the past 12 months.

Hastings-born sisters Temperton and Robinson, who also bred the gelding, didn't let down the pundits' tag of favouritism.

Temperton said when Walsh wasn't riding he worked at her stables and, consequently, had built a good rapport with Just Ishi.

"He's a huge help and has really learned how to ride the horse and it's a huge credit to him."

She was a tad nervous wondering why Walsh wasn't spurring the gelding for a faster time but post-race reconciled that with the jockey knowing what he was doing.

"It was a strong field. It was a strong field than the one before," she said, quietly suspecting her combination had the race sewn up when they made the final turn on the home straight but confidence kicked in when they were half way into the stretch.

"It was quite unbelievable, really, today."

Stephan Karnicnik and John Wheeler-trained Fair Script were second, 16 lengths behind, and Isaac Lupton rode the Bill Thurlow-trained Tizza Secret to third place, 21.5 lengths adrift off Just Ishi.

Back-to-back defending champion Mr Amor had to settle for fourth place with Matthew Cropp in the saddle.

Bay trainer Paul Nelson's No Change, with hometown jockey Aaron Kuru, clinched the $10,000 Stella Artois Maiden Hurdle over 2500m in the second race of the day.

Hastings co-trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen also savoured victory in the race five, the $30,000 Taradale Club open handicap over 2100m with Johnathan Parkes in the driving seat.