Ocean Park delivers Group 2 Glory with Autumn filly

Saturday belonged to Ocean Park, with the Waikato Stud-based Gr.1 Cox Plate-winning sire again underlining the class he produces. In the South Island, the son of Thorn Park sired the first two winners on the Wingatui card, before adding a new Group winner in the North Island.

The day began at Wingatui when Miraqua scored over 1500 metres. Owned and trained by Danny Frye, the five-year-old gelding recorded the second win of his career.

Thirty-five minutes later, it was The Ocean Heart for the Dennis family who swooped home to win by a length for trainer Robert Dennis over the 1400m trip. The four-year-old mare was having just her sixth career start, giving Ocean Park his 371st individual winner.

Attention then turned to Te Rapa on Legends Day, where Autumn Glory produced a determined finish at double-figure odds to claim the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas over 2000 metres. Racing in the Monovale Holdings colours of Joe and Max Smithies, and bred by the brothers, the mare delivered a deserved Group victory for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

Autumn Glory joins Tofane, Tellum, Ohope Wins, Fabric, Oceanx, Another Dollar, High Emocean, Our Hail Mary, Out of the Park, etc., as Ocean Park’s Group-winning fillies. While his sons include Kolding, Kovalica, Ocean Billy, Mystic Park, etc.

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.