Ocean Raider adds to his haul

The genuine Ocean Raider was rewarded for a series of sold performances this preparation when he came up trumps at Bairnsdale on Tuesday afternoon.

The five-year-old Waikato Stud-bred and sold son of Ocean Park had finished runner-up in two of his previous three appearances and deservedly added a fourth career victory to his record when he scored over 1600 metres.

Despite pre-race concerns about the soft nature of the track, the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained representative finished boldly from midfield to triumph under rider Brad Rawiller.

“We just asked Brad to help him through the ground, he’s not really adept in these conditions,” stable spokesman Reid Balfour said.

“He had bounced through his last run and he was fit and well.”

Ocean Raider was originally purchased off the Gavelhouse platform by Albury trainer Mitch Beer for $9250 and was subsequently bought by Griffiths and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds for A$160,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

He is a son of the late O’Reilly mare We Love, also the mother of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas placegetter Marine who is now racing in Hong Kong as Jumbo Future.

The dam is a half-sister to the Listed Widden Stakes winner Delta Girl and the family of Waikato Stud’s The Everest hope I Wish I Win and the G1 Livamol Classic winner Savy Yong Blonk.

We Love’s last foal is an unraced three-year-old sister to Ocean Raider named Ferris Wheel.