Mr Fahrenheit (NZ) (Zed) provided a special birthday present for part-owner Eric O’Hara, who turned 70 on Saturday.
After having a celebratory breakfast at the Speights Ale House in Timaru while watching the All Blacks beat Argentina to gain a World Cup final berth, things went up a notch when Mr Fahrenheit won the Dunstan – Celebrating Swell Time’s 1973 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
“That was just unbelievable watching him win like that and I’m still pinching myself,” O’Hara said.
Rugby and racing are O’Hara’s two biggest passions in life and he has mixed the two together with Mr Fahrenheit’s ownership group.
“There’s quite a story behind this horse. He was bought as a weanling at Karaka, arrived with Michael Daly at Washdyke, after being sacked in the North Island, and myself and three of the South Canterbury Rugby Referees took shares,” he said.
“Unfortunately, when Michael passed away the horse was sold on Gavelhouse for $1,000 and Allan Stalker, who owned and trained the Grand National Hurdles winner Joint Effort, bought him.
“He has an association with Stephanie Faulkner (nee Clark) at Washdyke, so the horse stayed here and I asked Allan if we could remain involved.
“He’s spelled on Allan’s farm at Mossburn, Southland, Steph got his jumps ticket, and he transferred up to Niall (Quinn) at Wanganui.
“He jumped pretty well last season and not so good this season, but Niall kept telling us the horse was fine, working well, and he’d try him on the flat again in this race.”
Quinn’s faith was justified with the 2-3/4 length victory, giving his ownership group a timely win.
“To produce an encouraging run would have been great, but to win like he did is just incredible, and we didn’t have to put too much on to get a big return,” O’Hara said.
“My wife, Donna, and I got to know Niall in August, when he was down here with the horse for Grand National week, and we had a lot of fun.
“He’s a hell of a hard-case Irishman and just a horseman through and through. I’m thrilled for him, and especially Allan who has put so much time into the horse hacking him around his farm.
“He’s incredibly well bred, really, being by Zed out of a Stravinsky mare, and his grand-dam was Little Avondale Stud Blue Hen mare Sound Lover.
“It’s a family that has left a lot of winners, mostly on good ground, so after today’s win on Good3 maybe “Charlie” has another win in him?”