OK COURAGE BACK IN WINNING FORM
OK Courage will probably never reach the heights he initially promised but the horse rewarded connections when back in the winner’s enclosure at Forbury Park on Thursday, November 25.
It’s been a long wait for the Courage Under Fire gelding to return to the winner’s circle _ 18 months _ but the horse is far from a spent force after rating a slick 1:58.3 for the mobile 2200m on Thursday.
Mark said owner Greg Brodie has always put the horse’s welfare first.
“After OK Courage broke his hip Greg just said do what you have to do to make him comfortable.”
The injury occurred when OK Courage was headed for the top as a 3YO. He was sidelined for seven months, then met further problems when on the comeback trail, meaning he was unraced for 11 months.
He trialled super when he returned but had then suffered a muscle tear on his flank, then was out of action again with a hairline fracture of a hind leg.
“Greg’s been patient. He’s never going to be the horse he could have been because of his problems, but he’s still a pretty good horse,” Mark said.
Mark gave the 5YO every chance trailing tearway leader Texas Hold Em until the closing stages.
OK Courage finished best along the sprint lane for a neck victory in a smart 2:41.8 for the mobile 2200m, with the leaders running the last 800m in a sharp 56.4s and final 400m in 27.6s.
Despite his injury-prone career, OK Courage still has the impressive career record of 24 starts for 10 wins, six placings, for $86,847 in stakes.
Thursday’s win brought up Mark’s 13th training win, and his 22nd driving win for the season.