While the Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) story continues to grow, courtesy of First Five’s stunning BCD Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) win, Te Papa’s “Legends Day” belonged to Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn Park). Two of his daughters, Ohope Wins and Autumn Glory, not only nabbed the two 3YO features, they also became the top two favourites for the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m), set for February 21. Ohope Wins heads the market for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
Meanwhile, down at Wingatui, Waikato Stud’s Savabeel (Zabeel) inched closer to his sire’s record of 166 individual stakes winners when Witz End notched stakes winner 157 when taking out the Hazlett Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
The recent Karaka Yearling Sale was comparatively quiet for Waikato Stud. We are used to their high-flyers peppering the sale and also used to seeing their name at the head of the aggregate, which they have achieved on ten occasions since 2014. A highlight was their Super Seth (Dundeel) siring the sixth highest-priced lot. Saturday might be seen as some sort of consolation? Or perhaps affirmation. They won’t remain quiet for long.
Kiwi Chronicles’ July 15, 2025 issue included a reference to Ocean Park in that, despite mixed results, his days were “far from finished”. The stud agreed and published the piece on their website. Now is as good a time as any to follow up on that observation.
Last November, at Riccarton’s New Zealand Guineas meeting Ocean Park’s Mystic Park took out the rich TAB Mile (Gr 3, 1600m). Ellerslie’s two day Boxing Day-New Year’s Day meeting saw two new stakes winners when Tellum landed the Eight Carat Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) and Ohope Wins won big in the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m).
The latter, in conjunction with Autumn Glory, made it a same-day double last Saturday with wins in the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr 2, 2100m) and the Waikato Guineas (Gr 2, 2000m). Notably, Autumn Glory was one of only two fillies up against the boys.
In a patient Vinnie Colgan ride, Autumn Glory was in the back half of the field until the 600m but she had not covered any extra ground to that point. Into the straight Colgan found a lane four out then went wider still soon after. Her challenge took place at the 200m and her momentum put her almost level at the 100m then led with 50m to run to hold out all other challenges by a long neck.
The filly was making just her third start. On debut, in early January, she was successful over 1400 metres at Ruakaka. Taking on stakes class at start two she was confronted with a heavy track in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) at New Plymouth. Saturday she proved that she is well above average.
Autumn Glory, withdrawn from Book 2 of NZB’s 2024 Karaka Yearling Sale, brings up individual stakes winner 26 for Ocean Park. She is one of five winners from Venus’s Dream, a winning Viscount (Quest For Fame) half-sister to the class sprinter Spring Heat (More Than Ready). Spring Heat won six times including two Group 3s at Ellerslie. Among her placings were a second and a third in the Telegraph Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Spring Heat and Venus’s Dream are two of eight winners from the unraced Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Emaurismo, herself a daughter of Katima (Zeditave) whose four wins were all at stakes level including the Silver Shadow Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick.
More than hope
We witnessed Ohope Wins’ grand entrance to the big stage on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie. The Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes was her fourth start in which she started as a maiden with two fifths and a second to her name. Third last at the 600m, she was most impressive with her strong straight run out wide to score easily.
Sporting new Yulong Stud silks, her performance at Te Rapa was as good if not better as she was last with a lap to run, last down the back and last at the 600m, although the field had compacted at that stage.
Joe Doyle must have known what a motor he had under him and pulled the filly widest into the straight. Building her challenge, she was at least four lengths adrift at the 200m but had only three to beat. Similar to her Ellerslie win, she found another gear from the 100m to completely overwhelm her opponents. This was an Oaks trial like no other. What beats her will win in two weeks’ time.
Ohope Wins is the sole winner from her dam Choux Mania (Redoute’s Choice) but her breeders have been single-minded in their breeding endeavours. Choux Mania’s half-brother is the outstanding Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park), a champion 3YO and New Zealand Horse of the Year. His 12 wins included the New Zealand Derby as well as the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) and the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
Jimmy Choux is by Thorn Park (Spinning World) and, on reflection, it is easy to understand why the mare visited Thorn Park’s equal-best son, Ocean Park, so often. Equal-best because Veyron, Jimmy Choux and Ocean Park each scored five Group 1 victories but only one, Ocean Park, included the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) among his five.
Further back in Ohope Wins’ family is the class imported sprinter Sharivari (What’s Ahead), who dominated New Zealand sprints carrying big weights before he was retired to stud in 1971. Remarkably, he won the Railway Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) on January 1, 1971 then the very next day landed the George Adams Handicap (Gr 2, 1600m). Carrying 9st 8lbs (61kgs) he also landed Trentham’s feature sprint, the Telegraph Handicap (Gr 2, 1200m) followed by a gallant third under 9st 12lbs (62.5kgs) in the Group George Adams Handicap (1600m). Ohope Wins’ fifth dam is a half-sister to Sharivari.
Along with 26 individual stakes winners (14 fillies and 12 colts), Ocean Park also has a further 26 stakes placed performers. His winners/runners ratio stands at 60.8 per cent. His stud career is one of ups and downs having been well supported early with interest dropping away by year six when he was represented by just 43 foals. First class results turned that around and year eight saw 123 foals on the ground.
Rising 18, this season’s super results may not be sufficient to completely resurrect his career but a stud looking to upgrade its broodmare stock could do themselves a favour by sourcing one or two his fillies or mares. They are sure to be from good families.
Inching closer
The lead is now single digits between Zabeel (Sir Tristram) and his son Savabeel. At 166, Zabeel holds the New Zealand record for individual stakes winners but Savabeel keeps chipping away.
During the 2023 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Savabeel celebrated his 130th and just three years on, that number has grown to 157, or an average of nine new stakes winners per year. Most studs would dream of such results.
Witz End has threatened stakes winner status on several occasions throughout his career. He won his first two starts and was a solid second to Grail Seeker (Iffraaj) at start four, in the Wellington Guineas (Gr 2, 1400m).
As a 4YO he scored an open handicap at Ellerslie and a Group 3 placing at Te Rapa after which his form fell away. This season, connections thought a change of environment might work and the gelding’s last four starts have been from Terri Rae’s stable resulting in a win on the synthetic at Riccarton and finally a long overdue return to winning form.
Third into the straight, Leah Hemi gave him a shake from the 200m and they had the lead at the 100m. To the line they were in no danger and Witz End’s sixth win in 21 starts for earnings of $285,000, more than recouping the $200,000 outlayed at the 2022 NZB Ready To Run Sale. Earlier that year, breeders Trelawney Stud passed the then colt in at $250,000.
He is one of two winners from the Bernardini (A.P. Indy) mare Gallwitz, herself a half-sister to three stakes winners including the dual hemisphere stakes winner Retrieve (Rahy). One of the better 3YOs in Australia in 2010-2011, Retrieve recorded placings in the Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) and the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m).
Te Rapa Group 1s
Waikato Stud’s great day did not overshadow the two featured races on the card, namely the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and the BCD Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m).
It is probably fair to say that the 2026 version of Herbie Dyke was not of the standard of previous years. Consequently, the class runner was the winner Legarto (Proisir) who was no stranger to the race having landed the 2024 running.
As usual, Legarto settled back and had one behind her at the 800m. Opie Bosson got busy from the 600m and they began the run home widest, in fourth. Near the 200m she was almost level but inside the 100m she was carted wider when Kingswood (Roaring Lion) drifted outwards. Fortunately they never made contact and Legarto thrust her head in front in the last few strides to land win number 11 from 23 starts for earnings in excess of $2.5 million. The win also brought up Opie Bosson’s 100th Group 1 winner.
Now a 6YO, who knows what Legarto could have achieved without various career issues which saw her having to take one spell of 11 months and two of more than six months. Saturday’s Herbie Dyke was her fourth Group 1, her most prestigious being the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). She is going to make a highly desirable broodmare at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in May. Sadly, the chances of her spending her retirement in New Zealand look bleak.
The season’s find amongst the sprinting ranks is undoubtedly First Five (Almanzor), who backed up a terrific Telegraph Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) with an even better performance in the BCD Sprint.
It is often said that the sustained speed required to win the Telegraph makes it more like a 1400-metre race and so it proved on Saturday. Interestingly, and pointed out by trainer David Greene, the Telegraph is the only 1200-metre victory for First Five. Prior to the BCD Sprint First Five had five wins at 1400 metres including a Group 3 at Te Rapa in December.
From third, several lengths back of the first two entering the home straight, First Five ranged alongside easily at the 200m and was simply too strong over the final 100m, running the 1400 metres in a slick 1:21.21. His eighth win takes his career earnings to $810,635.
Next up is likely the Otaki Maori WFA Classic (Gr 1, 1600m), set for February 21 at Ellerslie. He has won at the distance and has scored three wins right handed so Ellerslie should not present any issues. Beyond that, connections must surely consider a crack at an Australian Group 1, if not this season, certainly next season.
