Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Yulong Investments has made a splash in New Zealand this season, buying up the nation’s leading three-year-old filly talent, and they were once again rewarded at Ellerslie on Saturday when sealing the quinella in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
The burgeoning thoroughbred giant’s silks have been prominent at Ellerslie this season through the deeds of their undefeated Group One winner and $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) favourite Well Written, and they were once again to the fore at the Auckland track on Saturday when their exciting staying prospect Ohope Wins (Ocean Park) beat home another recent purchase in Autumn Glory in the Oaks.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly was ridden off the speed, three from the back, for much of the journey, and looked in a lot of strife when turning for home, but jockey Joe Doyle kept a cool head and guided his charge out wide where she was able to show her class when powering over the top of her rivals to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Autumn Glory.
“She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease.
“She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.”
While her future may lie across the Tasman, the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie in a fortnight looms as an enticing target, but O’Sullivan said they will wait for the dust to settle before making any concrete plans.
“She will decide for us,” he said. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.”
Doyle was euphoric after the victory, labelling Ohope Wins as the best three-year-old he has sat on.
“When you get to ride a horse that good, nothing compares,” he said. “She has been trained to the minute.
“We were a long way back, but when you are riding one that good they can just overcome all those things – the draw is never an excuse, the ground is never an excuse. She was just too good.
“She still feels like she has got so much left, I couldn’t even pull her up. She is absolutely exceptional, I have not ridden a three-year-old like her.”
A decision on the New Zealand Derby is yet to be made, by Doyle believes pressing on to challenge the boys in the Champions Day Classic is a no-brainer.
“When are you going to get a better opportunity?” he said.
Already a $3 favourite for the Derby pre-race, Ohope Wins has now shortened into a $1.60 favourite on the TAB’s New Zealand Derby futures market following her Oaks performance, while Yulong’s Well Written heads the NZB Kiwi market at $1.20.
