Former Invercargill Cup and Pelorus Trust winner Ohoka Texas has been reluctantly been on-sold out of the Mark Jones stable to race in North America.
The six-year-old Christian Cullen entire finished fifth _ 7.6 lengths behind winner Pemberton Shard _ when resuming in the Cromwell Lake Dunstan National Handicap at Addington on August 23.
“Its a real shame losing him as the programming and handicapping means it is near impossible to earn with him,” Mark said.
Ohoka Texas, sold to race in North America after winning 12 NZ races.
“We are losing too many horses from New Zealand like him to overseas racing. Its terrible when your best horses in the stable becomes your worst because they can’t earn, just like Texican (sold July).”
“We don’t want to lose them but have to make a business decision.”
Ohoka Texas was unable to win in seven starts for the Dallas Cowboys Syndicate, who purchased him last December from Katie, Olivia and Adam Carville.
The 2012 Group Two Pelorus 4YO Classic winner went faster in this year’s Pelorus (January) but had to settle for fourth in the combined 4 & 5YO Pelorus Trust Classic.
Jason Rulz won this year’s Pelorus in a 1:55.5 mile rate (2300m), pipping a fresh Christen Me late, with Major Mark, subsequently sold to West Australian interests, third.
Ohoka Texas then ran a half-length second to Samuel James in a 4-8 wins 2600m handicap at Addington on January 18, and fourth to Franco Ledger in the Group Three Invercargill Cup (won in 3:58.7, 3200m), before being spelled.
He had won the 2012 Invercargill Cup, beating Franco Ledger, in a more comfortable 4:06.2 for the 3200m.
Also at four, he beat Franco Ledger in the Wairio Cup in a smart 2:57.7 for the mobile 2400m, and also paced a 1:54.1 mile to win at Winton.
He leaves New Zealand having raced 37 times for 12 wins and four seconds for $174,342 in stakes.
The Mark Jones stable remained joint early premiership leaders after last weekend’s racing, advancing to five wins when class 3YO Offtocullect made short work of his rivals in the 1-2 wins Party At Tony Browns Place Mobile Pace at Forbury last Thursday (August 29).
Offtocullect, to be given his chance to qualify for the $180,000 NRM Sires Stakes 3YO Final at Addington on November 12.
The promising Gotta Co Cullect colt, now the winner of three and the runnerup to Locharburn at his only other outing _ is being freshened for upcoming Sires Stakes Heat racing.
Offtocullect, who was moved one out in the running line on the first turn by Blair Orange at Forbury, rolled up parked at the 900m.
He strode clear at the 400m and cleared out in the run home, winning by 4 1/2 lengths in a 2:01.2 rate (2200m), the leaders running their last 800m inn 58.9s and final 400m in 27.9s.