Ocean Emperor goes back-to-back in Tauranga Stakes

Breednet - Saturday November 17
To quote famous baseballer Yogi Berra, it was "déjà vu' all over again" at Tauranga on Saturday when classy customer Ocean Emperor defended his Gr2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) crown in fine style.

Ocean Emperor notches his second win in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes. Image: Race Images (Kenton Wright)The seven-year-old Zabeel entire had sprung a minor upset in the 2017 edition of the contest when downing Miss Wilson and multiple Group One winner Kawi, as a rating 82 assessed runner.

Twelve months on and with a second Group Two title under his belt, the Gary Hennessy-trained galloper showed just why he is now considered one of the top milers in the country as he produced a determined finishing burst to register his ninth career victory.

Handled superbly by stand-in rider Lynsey Satherley, who was substituting for an ill Dylan Turner, Ocean Emperor sat patiently in the trail throughout behind pacemaker Nicoletta. Satherley produced her charge at the top of the straight and after battling hard with the pacemaker, he mastered her close to the line to take the victory.

"He looks amazing and is doing things right," Hennessy said.

"The horse has a huge turn of foot so we don't want him leading. You can see when he does get in the trail, he has something to offer and he explodes in to it and doesn't give in.

"He has a ton of guts and is just a lovely horse to deal with."

Hennessy, who has shown he isn't afraid to travel his charge after taking him to the rich Kranji Mile in Singapore last May, has a Group One prize in mind as his next assignment.

"We set a plan in the spring and unfortunately we had a hiccup as we had planned to have him in Melbourne," he said.

"I think he showed today he has a decent race in him, which hopefully is the Captain Cook Stakes."

The Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) is the feature event at Trentham on December 8. – NZ Racing Desk
Advertisment
More Reading...
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Zabeel Mare Chasing Further Group One Success
A start in one of the showpiece races of Sydney's The Championships awaits Lizzie L'Amour if she races up to expectations in Saturday's Group I  Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.