‘Over The Moon': Sarah's Price Proves An Inspiration

SARAH Irwin has been through the wars with cancer in recent years, and the dog named after her, Sarah's Price, has had a tough time of it as well.

But the success of the dog in a Capalaba maiden heat and final in the past two weeks has been a blessing.

Ricky Hassell, the Bundaberg Club president, and Sarah have been "an item" for the past year and as well as Sarah joining the Torbanlea kennel, along came Sarah's Price.

"Over the moon, both of us," said Ricky of the victory.

"We cannot believe he has done this let alone win a race."

While Sarah was in Bundaberg Hospital fighting cancer back in 2023, Sarah's Price (Magical Bale-Gitcha Roses) was at home with Sarah's dad, "Wolley" Irwin, getting over two dislocated and one broken toe, the result of his first race start at Bundaberg on August 21, 2023.

He finished last.

"Because Sarah was in hospital, the dog became a house pet," said Ricky who in the past had got Sarah to whelp some bitches for him.

When Sarah and Ricky got together, Sarah's Price went into training for a stewards' trial on April 28, 2024 at Capalaba.

"He did a stopper tendon and that put him out again for a long, long time," Hassall added.

"We thought he would never race after he did the tendon."

Sarah's Price did not appear again until another stewards' trial at Albion Park on April 9 of this year.

Those two years of recovery for the dog have now repaired any on-going problems.

His wins in the maiden heat and final in the past two weeks came as a surprise for Sarah and Ricky.

"We were not confident at all," he added. "He's a very clumsy dog, and in all the time he has been off the scene, he was still very immature.

"We didn't know what to expect with him, but, we are really over the moon about this win.

"And, he has pulled up fantastic after Sunday's win and we will put him straight back in next week."

Sarah's Price turned four on February 23.

Sarah Irwin still has issues with her health, but her dog is flying the flag for her and Ricky and is reducing his winning times as he goes.

He led throughout at Capalaba on Sunday to win in 20.12 as the $1.90 favourite. Two years ago, the odds of his even racing again were much, much bigger.