NZ Oaks winner draws out for Sydney debut
It appears the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree when it comes to exciting filly Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) and her sire, Ocean Park.
The New Zealand Oaks winner makes her Australian debut in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday, her seventh start in a campaign that has been in motion since November.
Jockey James McDonald admitted the lengthy preparation was playing on his mind when Ohope Wins first arrived at Chris Waller's Sydney stable, but the three-year-old quickly quashed it.
"That was probably one question mark I had on her," McDonald said.
"But she's got such a brilliant attitude. Her father was Ocean Park, and he was as tough as they come, and this filly feels exactly the same.
"She's got a great appetite for work and just loves it.
"Her program would be just eat, sleep and work. She is very rigid like that and very measured in how she does everything. She is just a beautiful filly."
The winner of three of her six starts, Ohope Wins is in her first racing preparation but has been freshened since taking out the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 21.
McDonald partnered her in a recent barrier trial and was impressed with her work through the line, drawing parallels between Ohope Wins and 2024 Vinery Stud Stakes victor Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), who had taken out that year's New Zealand Derby (2400m) in the lead-up.
"She was a good filly, Orchestral, and this one feels just as good," McDonald said.
"It will take a good filly to beat her."
A field of nine has been paid up for the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), with Ohope Wins drawing the widest gate.
The race is a traditional stepping stone to the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11, with Ohope Wins a clear-cut early favourite for the blue riband.
