Mark Oulaghan has called on one of Australia’s leading jumps jockeys to partner West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), as the outstanding jumper heads south in pursuit of a historic fourth-consecutive Grand National crown.
West Coast has been partnered in each of his 11 steeplechase victories by Shaun Fannin, who will race against the son of Mettre En Jeu in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m) aboard his own horse in Jesko (NZ) (Atlante).
With Fannin unavailable, Oulaghan has secured the services of Willie McCarthy, an Irish hoop based in Victoria. McCarthy is no stranger to high-pressure races, and winning them, having guided the likes of Stern Idol, Duke Of Bedford and Wil John to feature victories across the Tasman.
McCarthy also has a wealth of experience riding in America, England and Ireland, and Oulaghan is rapt to have him on board the rising 10-year-old.
“We had a look around here and thought we may go for an Australian rider, and Willie was one that we approached, and he was keen to come over,” Oulaghan said. “We grabbed him while he was keen.
“He’s obviously a good rider, he’s ridden all over the world and done well in Ireland and America, so he’s pretty experienced.
“He’s coming in on Friday night and will have a bit of a walk around the course on Saturday morning, so the first time he gets on the horse, it’ll be all action.”
West Coast has been lightly raced so far this campaign, having just one steeplechase start prior to the National carnival, but he made a big impression when going down by a neck to in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) at Woodville.
The gelding was giving away seven kilograms to the winner in Smug, and Oulaghan welcomed his return to form ahead of the Koral and the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) seven days later.
“We were pretty happy with his run there, it was a bit of a turnaround in form after he’d been a bit disappointing in both of his runs at Wellington,” Oulaghan said. “I think the better ground at Woodville suited him, and I think the going at Riccarton is more up his alley as well.
“He galloped on the course proper here (at Awapuni) this morning with Berry The Cash, they went about 2000m, a round and a half. He went pretty well, so condition-wise, we’re reasonably pleased.
“I’d like to see a nice run on Saturday, and on his Woodville form, he’s not far off the mark. If he gets beaten on Saturday, we won’t panic too much, I think there’s still some improvement to come going into the National as he hasn’t had a very busy season.”
Joining West Coast on the journey south will be Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who is attempting a third-straight Hospitality NZ Grand National Hurdles (4200m) victory.
The formidable hurdler was warming up late when third in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3000m), and Oulaghan is hoping to see the same in Saturday’s Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) against similar opposition.
“It was a good run (in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles), I thought there may have been a bit more pace in that race then what there was and from where he was, he had to do a bit of work late,” Oulaghan said. “It was encouraging.
“I had a look through the noms and it’s a reasonable sort of field, so as long as he’s strong at the finish at that distance, we’ll be happy. I think once he gets out over an extra 1000 or 1200m of the National, it seems to suit him better.”