Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning jockey Willie McCarthy has made a triumphant return to jumps racing at Warrnambool, winning on Through Irish Eyes (NZ) (Tavistock) his first ride back over the obstacles and the second race of his comeback.
McCarthy guided the Ciaron Maher-trained Through Irish Eyes to victory in the opening event of the May Racing Carnival, prevailing in a stirring battle with one-time Melbourne Cup contender Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) with fellow New Zealand bred Raise The Note (NZ) (Raise The Flag) third in the first of the maiden hurdles over 3200m.
The Irishman had suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the second half of the jumps season last year.
“I’m not ready for the junkyard yet!” McCarthy said.
“It took a bit of time recovery-wise, I had the fall on the 30th of June, so I had about seven months’ recovery and I’ve been back riding trackwork for Ciaron and Declan (Maher) at Ballarat.
“I just built it up slowly, it’s great to get back here and get on a really nice horse today. Ciaron wanted to give me a winner at my first ride back and I was glad to have the opportunity and also glad to repay him with a decent ride.”
A VRC St Leger winner as a three-year-old, Through Irish Eyes was having his first start over the hurdles and while McCarthy noted that his inexperience was on show at times, he does believe that the horse has a bright future ahead of him.
“His jumping will come together more and I daresay once he goes over the steeplechase fences, he could be here for a Brierly or something next year,” McCarthy said.
Raced by a group that includes former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and fellow Kiwi’s Peter Kean and Patrick Harrison, Through Irish Eyes was bred by well-known Australian breeder and owner Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner.
He was a $150,000 purchase by former trainer Darren Weir out of the Henley Park draft during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2019.