Ohope Wins on track for Australian debut

Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) conquered all before her in New Zealand this season and she is looking to extend her reign in Australia when she heads to Rosehill on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

Formerly trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the daughter of Ocean Park is undefeated at stakes level, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Filles Classic (2100m) and Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), and owner Yulong Investments were keen to tackle Australian autumn targets with their filly following her New Zealand Oaks triumph.

She has subsequently been entrusted to the care of leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who is fresh off a Group One hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.

Waller has been pleased with the way Ohope Wins has settled into his Rosehill base and he is looking forward to her making her debut for this stable this coming Saturday.

“She has settled in really well,” Waller told Weigh In. “Andrew and Lance have done a fantastic job with her and they have been great to deal with since we have taken her over.

“She has had a pretty straightforward fortnight. She is very professional, she has settled in really well, she is in the same barn as Autumn Glow.

“We haven’t fussed over her, we have just treated her as a normal horse.

“We have seen some good things, she has had a couple of quiet gallops and she had a trial. James (McDonald) was aboard in the trial and he was very impressed with her.

“She will run in the Vinery this Saturday over 2000m, it is a pretty good field.

“She has certainly got something about her.”

The expat Kiwi horseman will also be chasing elite-level success in his homeland next weekend, with Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto) and Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel) contesting the Gr.1 Listen Live On Sportnation.nz NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

The pair put in pleasing fresh-up efforts when finishing second and fifth respectively in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, and Waller believes both will appreciate the step up in distance on Saturday.

“They have both come through their runs well and they have remained at Cambridge Stud in Karaka, who have been great hosts to us,” Waller said.

“They both ran really well (in the Dubai Classic), which was a fresh-up run for them. Chica was poking through late and probably peaked on her run with 50m to go, and I think a mile will suit her better.

“Mare Of Mt Buller just had to go back from the draw and took a while to wind up. A mile will suit her as well.”

Waller is also looking forward to lining up horses at his former stomping ground, having started his training career at Foxton.

“It is exciting for me personally to go back to Trentham,” he said.