Saintly run from Ocean Park’s daughter

Our Hail Mary became Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park’s 13th individual black-type winner when she produced an irresistible finish to claim the G3 Trentham S. this afternoon.

Third in the Listed NZB Airfreight S. as a 3-year-old, Our Hail Mary settled off the pace and when rider Danielle Johnson drew her wide on the home turn the mare went through her gears to advance her record to six wins from 13 appearances.

A further five placings emphasises the patiently-handled mare’s genuine nature with part-owner and trainer Allan Sharrock now pondering a chase for higher honours.

“I’m proud of the mare, it wasn’t easy for her today,” Sharrock said. “There was a lot of pressure on all the way and she had to work hard, but to her credit, she really kept on giving.

“Over ground, I believe she’ll get to the top level, but I’m not going to ask too much of her this time. I’ve got things like the G3 Waikato Cup in mind for next season.

“There are a couple of fillies and mares’ races coming up over the next few months, those could be nice options for her.”

They include the G3 Manawatu Breeders’ S. on April 9 and the G2 Travis S. on May 1.

Sharrock knows Our Hail Mary’s family well as she is out of a half-sister to his former stable star Shez Sinsational, who collected four G1 titles during her racing days.

Waikato Stud also celebrated success on the premier card at Trentham with the Savabeel mare Tabata, who was a decisive winner of the closing event on the card.

“I was really confident and we put the blinkers and tongue tie on – she’s just been a bit lax about things,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.

“She’s a lovely mare and I’ve always thought she would go right through the grades. Maybe next campaign we will stretch her out to 2000 metres.”

Raced by former New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum and was a $100,000 Karaka purchase.

She is a daughter of the Pins mare Splitsecond, a winner and Listed placegetter, and the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Xtravagant and the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. winner Sixty Seconds.