Racing: Carson doubles chances

Trentham trainer Eddie Carson will probably have a two-pronged attack when he attempts to win this month's $50,000 Opunake Cup (1400m) for the fourth successive time.

Carson's star galloper Irish Rover has won the Opunake Cup, run at Hawera on July 23, for the past three years and will be back to defend his crown.

But he is likely to be joined by his up-and-coming stablemate Hamilton Road, an impressive winner of the $40,000 Winter Championship Final (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Carson is reluctant to race his two talented gallopers against each other but will probably make an exception at Hawera.

The winner of the Opunake Cup gains free transport to the $80,000 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 6 and Carson is keen to take Hamilton Road south for the race.

The His Royal Highness four-year-old gelding is quickly establishing himself as a quality galloper with Saturday's success being his sixth from 16 starts. He has won four of six starts on heavy tracks and showed plenty of heart in beating the favourite Figurinit by a neck.

Hamilton Road was bred by Carson and is raced by him in partnership with his wife Rosaleen.

The gelding is from the Rustington mare Rustling Lass, who also produced a four-year-old by Lord Ballina that Carson has in work but is yet to race.

Rustling Lass is currently in foal to His Royal Highness.

Hamilton Road, ridden on Saturday by David Walker, enjoyed a good trip behind the pacemaking Figurinit and Rat Tat and loomed as a big threat at the 300m.

Figurinit battled bravely in the testing conditions but Hamilton Road was able to pull out a little extra to take the decision.

Said Walker: "He's come a long way in a short time. His manners have improved a lot - he beat himself a couple of times."

- NZPA