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.
Waikato Stud farewells Daffodil
On Tuesday morning, the Waikato Stud team farewelled a matriarch of its broodmare band and a flagbearer of the WS white, green and royal blue racing colours, Daffodil (ex Spring), at age 20. Retired to …
Read More
The Corner with Garry Chittick
Another year nearly passed, I could never work it out when my parents would express the view on how the years passed so quickly. When young, one always looked forward to the next happening; it seemed we waited forever. Now I dwell on the past and want it to last forever.
Read More