TEXAS RUNS RIVALS RAGGED
Emerging 4YO stayer Ohoka Texas is to be reserved for either the $40,000 Pelorus 4YO Classic or the $20,000 Marlborough Cup at Waterlea on January 15 after he destroyed a handy field in the 3-win and faster $18,000 Wairio Cup at Winton on Saturday December 17.
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, after reviewing options, has decided against starting him in the $20,000 Wesport Cup on Boxing Day at Patterson Park.
Ohoka Texas, after settling in midfield early in the Wairio Cup, was sent to the front with 1200m to run and kept the pace strong with second favourite Franco Ledger working outside him.
Franco Ledger ducked in for cover on the home turn but Ohoka Texas was revelling in his work, clearing out in the run home to win an impressive 6 1/4 lengths. There was 4 1/2 lengths back to No Courage Russell with the others coming in at intervals.
Ohoka Texas, who equalled the Winton track 1609m record of 1:54.1 first-up for the season in October, smashed the clock again, this time over 2400m from a stand with a track record.
He paced the journey in 2:57.7 (1:59.9 mile rate) _ 1.1s inside the former track mark for a male pacer set by subsequent Grand Circuit pacer Bettor’s Strike in the 2009 Winton Cup and 2.6s outside the NZ mark of 2:55.1 set by former dual New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red when beating Mainland Banner by a head in the 2006 Ashburton Flying Stakes.
Jamie holds the mares’ Winton track mark and NZ mares record from a stand with her 2:57.2 set when winning the 2006 Wairio Cup.
Ohoka Texas ran his rivals ragged over his last 800m in 54.9s and his closing 400m in 27.4s.
“I had a bit of luck but he went super,” Mark said.
Ohoka Texas, last season’s Group Two Southern Supremacy Stakes Final winner, took his 4YO record to three wins and a second.
Mark gave Ohoka Texas 10 days off to freshen after also running his rivals ragged in a 3-win pace at Addington on Show day, November 11.
He won that day by 10 1/2 lengths over stablemate Ardlussa Express in a sharp 1:56.7 rate for the 1950m, his last 800m in 56.2s. A Rangiora workout Ohoka Texas topped the horse off for Winton.
The Overport Lodge team were in good touch at Winton.
Three-year-old filly Holme Fire moved up parked over the final 800m and fought tenaciously to hold Terrific and Repeat After Me in the Highway Services Mobile Maiden Pace.
The Courage Under Fire filly, a sister to Friday night’s Kumeu Founders Cup winner Pembrook Benny, paced the mobile 2400m in 3:00.8 (2:01.2 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.8s and final 400m in 28.6s.
Jellignite (Regan Todd) trailed Dream Out Loud (Sam Ottley) in a strong 2-3 wins Macca Lodge Junior Drivers Mobile Pace and fought well for a half a length second.
Dream Out Loud held in a smart 2:56.6 (1:58.4 mile rate) for the mobile 2400m, running his last 800m in 57s and final 400m in 27.4s.
Maiden filly, Saskia Finn, on debut in the Merry Xmas From CRT Pace, stepped safely from the ace and was soon trailing Young Tommy.
After Hellboy went to the front mid-race, she moved up parked over the last 1000m and fought well for third, a length from front-running Hellboy, and half a length behind Young Tommy.
By Jeff Scott