OHOKA TEXAS SYNDICATED
Fast class pacer Ohoka Texas has changed hands and after racing in NZ until the end of January, will then look for opportunities in Australia.
Ohoka Texas has been syndicated by Australian-based former Christchurch racing enthusiast Phil McHerron, after a proposed sale to North America fell through.
The 5YO Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire will continue to race from the Mark Jones stable until his departure.
Mr McHerron, who relocated to Benowa on Queensland’s Gold Coast in April, returned to Christchurch to finalise the purchase of Ohoka Texas for a syndicate of 10.
He has raced horses over the years, trained either by Mark, or Mark’s father Peter, including former capable mare Lyndale, who he co-raced to win five when trained by Peter.
Along with Peter Jones and Grant Hatton, Mr McHerron also co-raced Lord Phantom, who Peter trained to provide Mark with his first driving success at Blenheim on November 6, 1996.
Mr McHerron is currently racing a couple of horses from the Queensland stable of Richard Hooper.
Four of the syndicate owners are Australians, while the other six shares have been secured by NZ friends of Mr McHerron.
“Ohoka Texas will follow the same programme as last year and go south for the Northern Southland and Invercargill Cups in January, then go to Sydney,” Mark said.
“He’ll base in Sydney for a few months, then evalute from there. An Aussie trainer may decide to bring him back for next year’s NZ Cup.”Mark says there are two primary reasons why Ohoka Texas will go to Australia.
“One, he has to leave NZ for GST purposes, and two, the top horses who will race in the Easter Cup here will be too good for him,” he said.
“The syndicate has left a bit of money in the kitty, so the owners don’t have to dig in for a while. That should last them a while.”
Mark says the syndicate purchasers realise they you can’t normally buy such well-performed horses.
“They know exactly what they’ve bought. They know he’s not good enough to be one of the top ones but they should have their fun with him.”
“Its good on both of their behalves (seller and purchasers). Katie (Carville, former principal owner) got what she wanted,” Mark said.
Ohoka Texas, bred by Mrs Carville and her late husband Dave, raced 30 times for Katie, Adam and Olivia Carville, for 12 wins and three seconds, for $167,550 in stakes.
The 1:54.1 race-winning miler struck a purple patch of form last summer, beating Franco Ledger in the Wairio Cup in mid-December, then won the Group Two Pelorus 4YO Classic at Marlborough, and the Group Three Invercargill Cup (3200m).
By Jeff Scott