Ocean Park Fillies Dominate G1 NZ Oaks

Racing in the silks of Yulong Investments, Saturday’s G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) was a coup for the international breeding and racing venture as OCEAN PARK fillies Ohope Wins and Autumn Glory finished first and second.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Ohope Wins came into the race off victories in the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic and G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes and justifiably started the race favourite.

Ridden off the speed for much of the journey, jockey Joe Doyle kept a cool head and guided his filly out wide as they came into the home straight, highlighting her superior ability to power over the top of her rivals to win by 2-1/4 lengths over last start G2 Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory.

“She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said.

“It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease.

“She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.”

The G1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) against the boys at Ellerslie in a two weeks’ time looms as an enticing target, but O’Sullivan indicated that they’ll wait for the dust to settle before making any concrete plans.

“She will decide for us,” he said. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.”

Doyle was over the moon after the stunning performance, highlighting Ohope Wins as the best 3yo he has ridden.

“When you get to ride a horse that good, nothing compares,” he said. “She has been trained to the minute.

“We were a long way back, but when you are riding one that good they can just overcome all those things – the draw is never an excuse, the ground is never an excuse. She was just too good.

“She still feels like she has got so much left, I couldn’t even pull her up. She is absolutely exceptional, I have not ridden a three-year-old like her.”

Doyle believes pressing on to the New Zealand Derby is simply a ‘no-brainer’.

“When are you going to get a better opportunity?” he said.

Becoming the fifth G1 winner for her sire, the Gartshore Bloodstock-bred Ohope Wins is the first winner from Choux Mania, a placed half-sister by Redoute’s Choice to NZ Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux and G1 winner Miss Wilson.

Waikato Stud will present a colt by Ocean Park out of their two-time Group 1 winner Never Been Kissed at the 2026 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 463 – click to view.