Racing: Walker ditches Irish Rover for Balmuse

David Walker will ride Balmuse in the three-race Hastings treble and not his old favourite Irish Rover.

Walker officially made the decision yesterday, but said he had all but made up his mind to partner Balmuse before winning the Foxbridge Plate on Irish Rover at Te Rapa last Saturday week.

Last year Walker committed himself to Irish Rover for all three races at Hastings when there was doubt over Balmuse running in the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes.

It is well-recorded history that Balmuse won the Kelt Capital Stakes with replacement Jamie Bullard in the saddle.

Walker said little about his feelings at the time and describes the incident now as "one of those things".

"Balmuse wasn't going to run the Kelt. Kevin [Myers] was keen to take him to Australia."

Walker said his decision to stay with Balmuse this time was purely clinical.

"To me Balmuse is more versatile in both distances raced over and in the ability to handle different types of track conditions."

Irish Rover, he said, would not be at all competitive over the 1400m of Saturday's $200,000 Mudgway Fair Tax Stakes if the track was heading towards firm.

Even 1600m on a firm track was not really his preference these days, but the 2000m of the Kelt was ideal even if the track was reasonably good.

Balmuse will be competitive in all three races, provided the footing isn't very heavy.

"He's quite brilliant on a firm track, but that brilliance is dulled in heavy ground, even though he's won in it. He's also a younger horse than Irish Rover. It wasn't an easy decision because Irish Rover has been a wonderful horse to me."

Walker has won 17 races on the remarkable veteran.