Ocean Parks impress on debut
Smart filly Laurant was a stylish debutante at Pukekohe Park today to lead home a quinella for Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park.
The three-year-old produced a timely finish for a first-up victory in a competitive maiden line-up.
“Her trials had been great and there’s a fair bit of upside about her,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“She’s very well bred, but still a bit green and quite a long filly.
“She’s been through a few growing stages and she’ll be better in the autumn.”
Laurant who is raced by Trelawney Stud and was bred in partnership with R M Anderson, Mrs C N Taylor & Trelawney Thoroughbred, is a half-sister to the Group winners Antonio Lombardo and Master Of Arts.
Runner-up Wild Seas was also making her first race day appearance off two trial placings.
Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, she is out of the Group performer Santangelo.
Meanwhile, the Waikato Stud-bred and owned Ensemble came with a powerful burst from the tail of the field to finish fourth.
She was on debut and the Pins three-year-old is trained by Team Rogerson, who prepared her dam Costume to win two Group 1 races.
Ensemble’s three-quarter brother will be offered as Lot 432 during next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek
Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
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