Ocean Tsunami marks sire’s Cox Plate anniversary with win

Fourteen years on from Ocean Park’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) triumph, the Waikato Stud stallion marked the anniversary in style with a winner at Randwick on Saturday.

Ocean Park’s four-year-old daughter Ocean Tsunami (NZ) added a fourth win to her promising career record with a narrow victory in the A$120,000 TAB Highway Handicap (1600m).

Ocean Tsunami was ridden by Zac Lloyd for trainer Scott Singleton and was able to overcome a tricky draw of 11 and slot into a handy position in fifth place.

Lloyd went to work at the top of the straight and Ocean Tsunami slowly but surely overhauled the front-running Condone (Justify), then had to withstand the late challenge of the favourite Bluish Hue (Flying Artie).

Ocean Tsunami stuck her neck out to beat Blueish Hue by a head, with a similar margin back to Condone in a tight three-way finish.

Singleton was quick to deflect the credit on to Lloyd.

“I don’t know how he did that from the barrier,” he said. “It was a very sticky draw.

“He’s riding with so much confidence, and this horse deserved a change of luck after having no luck last time.

“It was a pretty painless watch despite the narrow margin.”

Lloyd believes there could be much more in store for Ocean Tsunami, especially once she learns to settle better in her races.

"She just wants to relax a bit more,” Lloyd said. “With the shades on, she was a bit too keen.

“I suggested to Scott that he maybe try a set of visors on her, so she can see them rather than just hear them.

“I think she’s a horse that will be at her best over further in the future, but Scott needs to get her settling if she’s going to get over more ground.”

From an 11-race career, Ocean Tsunami has now recorded four wins and four second placings. She has earned A$127,900.

Ocean Tsunami was bred by Waikato Stud in partnership with Trevor Luke and is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Pastrana, whose four winning progeny include the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) placegetter Miss Valencia (NZ) (Ocean Park).

Waikato Stud offered Ocean Tsunami in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where Scott Singleton Racing Pty Ltd bought her for $60,000.