Classic aim for Ocean Park colt
Talented three-year-old Scream Park is on his way home. Despite a defeat at Randwick at the weekend, trainer Chris Waller has confirmed a crack at the Karaka 3YO Classic at Ellerslie later this month.
The son of Ocean Park won twice last month before he beat only one runner home on Saturday. “He’ll go, only just though,” Waller said. “Obviously when you’re travelling you like to be going with a win next to your name.”
Jockey Hugh Bowman did provide some positive feedback. “He was a bit of a sitting duck and as they sprinted he was a bit flat-footed, and as a result, it was a plain run,” Waller said. “Hugh said don’t be disappointed and he’s a very good judge to have aboard.”
Waller said adding the 3YO Classic to its $1 million equivalent for two-year-olds on January 27 was a smart move, as was moving the meeting to a Saturday. “They need to get that Magic Millions type of feel. We all know what that’s about in Australia, and most of New Zealand does as well,” he said.
“It’s a great chance for New Zealand to showcase what they’ve got and I think they should put another couple of Group One races on and bring the Aussies over, or other horses from around the world.”
Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes
Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.
Read More
The Corner with Garry Chittick
The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.
Read More