Doherty (26) was a replacement for Mark Marris, who was taken to Invercargill hospital for observation after a fall from Single Malt in the maiden hurdles yesterday. He was discharged with a badly bruised arm. Doherty was having his third ride in a steeplechase. He has had some seven rides over hurdles in the past two years.
Doherty, a native of Ireland, became apprenticed to Awapuni trainer, Grant Searle, month ago. Doherty has been working in stables for about 10 years, mainly in Ireland.
"It is very hard to get a chance in Ireland and I came to New Zealand for more opportunities," Doherty said.
He came to New Zealand in 2008 and worked for Lisa Latta at Awapuni. He rode Taylor Zane to win a highweight at Awapuni in 2009 for trainer Bryce Revell.
Doherty then returned to Ireland for 12 months. He had four flat rides in Ireland.
He is expecting to ride about 54kg on the flat.
Kakapuka prevailed by three quarters of a length over No Rush'n with 20 and 3/4 lengths to the third horse Ice Pack.
Kakapuka, who had not won a race, was the outsider of the seven-horse field and paid $37.70 to win. The 7yr-old is trained at Ascot Park by Kelly Thompson, who races the gelding with Don McFarlane, of Rakahouka.
Kakapuka was having his fourth start over steeplechase fences since being tried as a jumper two years ago. He joined the Thompson stable from the North Island in 2009.
Thompson had wins in the Great Western with Possum Canyon (1996), Belsen's Bank (1983).
Quartze (Richard Eynon) and Logan James (Richard Cully) both dropped their riders at the last fence. The pair were remounted with Quartze taking the fourth prize of $1250 and Logan James, the fifth of $625.
Quartze was initially remounted by his trainer Sean Cameron. He was subsequently fined $400 by the judicial panel for mounting and riding the horse when not wearing the required body protector and skull cap.
Tim Yeo was fined $200 on a similar charge in regard to Lindisfarne, who was badly checked and lost rider Gary Walsh near the 1300m when Kidunot lost his rider.
Lindisfarne did not complete the course.
Joanne Rathbone, the rider of Kidunot was taken to hospital with suspected concussion.
She had ridden the other two jumps winners, High Seas and Lautenschlager, who repeated his win of last year for trainer Thompson and owner Glennis Munro.
Jo Chong had his first winning ride yesterday when he partnered Whitestripe. Chong is apprenticed to Murray Hamilton at Omakau.
Ashley McKay had her first win when she rode El Bee Dee at Riccarton on Saturday. El Bee Dee is trained at Ashburton by her father, Russell. The gelding was led back to scale by her twin sister, Lisa, who recently began race riding.
