Jonny McInerney was holding his breath in the final stages of yesterday's Dunedin Cup - and for good reason.
McInerney was handling No Undies Sundy in the $5500 c5 545m final but he was waiting nervously after Homebush Chopper and No Undies Sundy - both trained by his father, John, at Darfield - tussled with the Invercargill-based Thrilling Marty in the final stages.
After a short wait, Homebush Chopper got the nod and McInerney explained why he was unsure whether the dog, out of the 21-win race bitch Pink Reltub, had held on.
''He's a lead dog, and they were always going to get to him in the last little bit, but he's gone well in the conditions,'' McInerney said.
''He's very versatile - he won his last start over 295m at Christchurch, so he can run up to 545m, but that would be right at the top of his range.''
Despite the wide box draw of 8, Homebush Chopper - now the winner of 28 of his 99 race starts - managed to get to the lead as the field galloped past the winning post the first time.
Thrilling Marty manouevred through to second as the field hit the back straight but cost himself a metre when he went wide on the final bend after edging ahead.
That metre proved to be telling, as he went down by a nose to Homebush Chopper. The winner's kennel mate, No Undies Sundy, was another head back in third.
There will be no rest for Homebush Chopper, as he lines up tomorrow at Addington in a c4-c5 520m race.
''He's got plenty of those races [to compete in]. There's nothing coming up for him in terms of big races; just ordinary, everyday races.''
Homebush Chopper's tenacious victory yesterday - along with one other at Forbury Park and another at Addington - took John McInerney's season tally to 430 wins.
He is well clear in the national trainers' premiership. Palmerston North trainer Lisa Ahern sits second on 333 wins.
