Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Awapuni visitors enjoyed back-to-back success at Tauranga when Omega Boy (Time Test) claimed the feature race on the card, the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m), just one race after Platinum Pantheon defeated a handy field of three-year-olds over 1200m.
Omega Boy has always appealed as a galloper with plenty of quality and has come of age in his current campaign where he had won two of his last four starts while also running a strong fifth in the Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) followed by an eye-catching sixth in the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m).
Trainers Peter and Trent Didham placed their faith in apprentice Sam McNab to get the job done on the five-year-old son of Time Test and he handled the task with aplomb as he positioned his mount one off the fence in midfield during the early running which was set up by noted pacemaker Leroy Brown.
McNab didn’t panic when runners swooped around on his outside at the 600m, moving Omega Boy into a gap entering the home straight as he set out after race favourite Sterling Express who had assumed command inside the 250m.
McNab got the best out of Omega Boy in the closing stages as he charged late to snatch victory from Sterling Express in the shadows of the post while Khafre held out Qali Al Farrasha for third.
McNab was delighted to secure the victory.
“That was awesome as I’ve been getting great support lately and to get these wins after working so hard is quite rewarding,” McNab said.
“The plan was to settle behind the speed somewhere and he jumped well so I elected to hold him up a little and we got into a nice spot.
“I went to the fence and when Michael (McNab aboard Qali Al Farrasha) got going I got a nice track into the race and just had to run down the leader which he did.
“That last little bit Sterling Express just folded up a little and my horse was tough and got through the ground.”
Peter Didham was also thrilled with the result and especially for owners Ian and Dave Scott who race the horse under their Homeview Bloodstock banner.
“We thought it was a good race for him as he has just kept on improving and he only finished three lengths off them in the Thorndon Mile where he was down in the worst part of the track,” he said.
“I’m just really happy for Ian and Dave (Scott) who bred and own him as he is a horse going places and is doing a really good job for them.
“We do think he will run 2000m as he relaxes beautifully and while he is still learning he is just the coolest horse to have around as he is so professional, carries weight well and doesn’t’ know when to give in.”
As the trainers of the winning horse of the Japan Trophy, the Didhams will receive a trip for two to Japan, and Didham senior is preparing to argue his case against son Trent for the trip.
“If the story is true about the Japan trip, I may have to let my wife adjudicate on who gets to go,” he said.
“I think the main thing for us is that the win is a great advertisement for our stable as we only have 25 in work and we need wins in races like these to raise our profile and attract new owners.”
Omega Boy is out of the Duke Of Marmalade mare Bit of Crumpet and comes from an extended family that includes Australian stakes winners Sir Luminar and Luminia.
He has now won $215,640 in prizemoney from five wins and six placings from his 22 starts.
