Racing: Rover gamely seizes his third

Irish Rover's third successive Opunake Cup victory has been heralded as the best of his 16 career wins to date.

The Trentham-trained and noted wet-track specialist on Saturday ploughed through the Hawera mud, carrying topweight of 60.5kg, to a half-head victory over Joseph in the $45,000 1400m race.

Winning rider David Walker rated it Irish Rover's best.

"It would have to be, especially under the weight," Walker said. "It wasn't a bad field that he beat either."

Walker has been aboard Irish Rover in all of his wins.

The reception the duo received on returning to scale showed the crowd recognised the game performance of the six-year-old Kenfair gelding.

However, post-race celebrations were tempered as one important person was missing.

Irish Rover's part-owner and trainer Eddie Carson was at home recovering from a heart condition which put him in hospital last Wednesday night.

Representing him were two of his four sons, John and Miles, who made the trip from Wellington with Irish Rover and stablemate Hamilton Road.

"He's a great horse," an emotional John Carson said. "It was a big ask for him to lump that weight and still win. We're very proud of him.

"Dad would have loved to have been here to see this."

Carson said his father spent a couple of nights in hospital before being sent home to rest.

"He had a problem with his heart not beating at the right rate. They've stabilised it, but he's just got to take things easy for a bit."

Hamilton Road started the day on a winning note for the Carson team when scoring an impressive win in the first race.

Carson has now had seven starters at Hawera meetings and all have won.

Barney McCahill, the Auckland co-owner of Irish Rover, sponsored a race on Saturday's programme which was named the Irish Rover 1600.

Irish Rover has now won just over $415,000 from 35 starts. All his wins have been in the lower North Island.

Irish Rover has been tagged a poor traveller, but Walker denied that.

"He does travel okay, that's not a problem," Walker said.

He said Irish Rover had struck unsuitable track conditions and had had to cope with wide barrier draws in his handful of starts racing outside the lower North Island.

Walker had no doubt that with conditions to suit, the horse was capable of winning in Australia.

"I'm sure he would be competitive as long as he struck a wet track."

Walker settled Irish Rover mid-field in the early running while pacemaker Betcha Wood set a torrid pace for the wet track conditions.

Irish Rover suffered from some buffeting around the bend, but was travelling well as he cruised up to just in behind the leaders entering the straight.

Betcha Wood soon compounded and Go Thenaki got through along the inner to lead momentarily.

When Walker asked Irish Rover to extend 300m out the horse powered to the lead.

Just when it looked as if Irish Rover was in for a comfortable victory, Joseph came out of the ruck with a challenge that almost gained the Waverley-trained galloper an upset win.

Go Thenaki fought on well for third, three lengths back third and was just ahead of second-favourite Whoc, who had his chance.

There are no plans for Irish Rover to contest the group three $75,000 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 7 despite the horse winning free transport south as part of the prize for his win yesterday.

Instead, Irish Rover will be freshened before being prepared for the group one $200,000 weight-for-age Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on August 28.



OPUNAKE CUP

* Proven wet track specialist Irish Rover claims his third successive cup.

* David Walker again has the mount.

* Missing is personable trainer Eddie Carson, who has heart trouble.

- NZPA