Four-winner weekend for Ocean Park
Every reliable, Ocean Park had another winning weekend, producing four winners in New Zealand and across the Tasman in Australia.
Friday is was the Waikato Stud-bred Rip Tide (ex Hurry). The three-year-old came with a late charge on debut to win by half a length for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott of Wexford Stables, who bought him from Waikato Stud’s 2025 NZB Karaka draft for $240,000.
He is a brother to the Gr.1 VRC Oaks placegetter Hurry Curry, who is trained in Australia by Danny O’Brien. Rip Tide is the fifth foal of the Savabeel mare, who has an Ardrossan two-year-old filly and a Super Seth yearling filly; she is due to Super Seth this season.
Moana Nui and Liberty Park flew the flag for their sire in Queensland, Australia. Moana Nui won on Friday, while Liberty Park saluted on Saturday at Doomben for trainer Chris Waller, who also trains Ocean Park’s A$4.4 million earner Kovalica.
With Grace put on a show at Te Rapa on Sunday in the colours of Go Racing NZ, winning by 4.5 legnths over the 2400m trip. With Grace is nominated for the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on 14 November.
Ocean Park celebrated a standout season in 2025/26 as the sire of the NZ Filly of the Year and Champion Stayer, Ohope Wins, who won the Gr.1 NZ and Gr.1 Australian Oaks in 2026 – Yulong purchased her privately following her win in the Gr.1 NZ Oaks. Ocean Park stands this season at a fee of $15,000 plus GST (live foal guarantee).
The Corner with Garry Chittick
Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.
Read More
Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter
Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.
Read More