Hennessy, who was thrust into the limelight as the conditioner of five-time
Group One winner Ocean Park, produced a masterful training performance to see
Ocean Emperor return from more than 18 months off the scene to score
impressively at New Plymouth on Friday.A lightly-raced entire by Zabeel, Ocean Emperor went to the line hard-held when notching his third career victory from just seven starts in a Rating 75 event over 1200m.
"We always knew he had great ability, but the way he won on Friday opened another dimension to him," Hennessy said. "There was a lot of relief and elation too after such an extended period on the sidelines.
"He got an infection in his foot and had to have half his hoof cut out up to the coronet, and it has taken time to grow down," Hennessy said.
Hennessy purchased Ocean Emperor for $450,000 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale and like Ocean Park, he races the now five-year-old in conjunction with Hong Kong owners Andrew Wong and Steve Yang.
"He really is a drop dead gorgeous horse," Hennessy said. "He has a very good pedigree. We bought him hoping to follow the same path as Ocean Park and who knows, he might just get there."
The Waikato Stud graduate is out of the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes winner Tootsie, a sister to multiple Group winner Legless Veuve.
A tilt at the Gr.2 Manco Easter Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 22 looms as a possible target for Ocean Emperor this term.
"He may start next on Matamata Breeders' Stakes day and then head towards the Easter," Hennessy said. "We are a year behind with him but being a son of Zabeel he is only going to get better with age." - NZ Racing Desk.
