Raider back in winning form
Ocean Raider turned his form around at Geelong on Boxing Day to post his second career victory.
Trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock, the four-year-old had been below par at Sandown earlier this month and bounced back in style over 1530 metres.
He was parked three and four wide at the back of the field before jockey Craig Newitt made his move near the turn and the gelding responded with an irresistible finish.
Bred by Waikato Stud, Ocean Raider was originally purchased off the Gavelhouse platform by Albury trainer Mitch Beer for $9,250 and then made $160,000 to the bid of Griffiths and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He is a son of Ocean Park and the O’Reilly mare We Love, also the dam of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas placegetter Marine. He is now racing in Hong Kong as Jumbo Future.
We Love, who also has an unraced Ocean Park juvenile filly, is a half-sister to the Listed Widden S. winner Delta Girl and the family of the Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win and the G1 Livamol Classic winner Savy Yong Blonk.
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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