Ocean Park on Display at Karaka Million

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Ocean Park on Display at Karaka Million

Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (NZ) – currently being primed for a full assault on England and Ireland’s summer features in 2013 - will continue his preparation with a guest appearance at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie next Sunday 27 January.

Ocean Park’s trainer Gary Hennessy has committed his outstanding charge to a gallop between Race 2 & Race 3 of next weekend’s Karaka Million Twilight Meeting, held on the eve of the Karaka Yearling Sales, the same Sale Series where Hennessy sourced Ocean Park (Thorn Park x Sayyida, by Zabeel) in 2010 for NZ$150,000.

“I was talking to Andrew Castles (Director of Racing at the Auckland Racing Club) and we decided that a gallop between races at the Karaka Million meeting would be better than a trial,” commented Hennessy.

Ocean Park’s connections have set an ambitious campaign for the four-year-old entire for 2013 which could see him contest Group 1 races in New Zealand, Dubai, England and Ireland.

“He will resume in the Group 1 Haunui Farm Classic on 23 February and then we will head to Dubai for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (1800m) on 30 March,” said Hennessy.

“We discussed the Duty Free with Brent Thompson and we think that it’s a good race for him as he won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes in the spring over 1800 metres.

“We are under no illusions and it’s a big challenge as we saw with Sunline in 2001, but he has great form around him and he beat some very good horses in the spring.”

Ocean Park will then head to Royal Ascot which Hennessy hopes will be the start of a full campaign for Ocean Park over the English and Irish summer.

“We will give the horse a good break after Dubai and then head to the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot,” said Hennessy. “The straight mile over the undulating Ascot course requires a horse to be able to run a strong 1600 metres as it’s a testing race and we think that it’s the right race for him.

“We are hoping to keep the horse in England and Ireland over their summer so races like the Irish Champion Stakes are on the cards. That race has been won by some of the world’s best horses including Sadler’s Wells, High Chaparral and Sea the Stars. Races like the English Champion Stakes towards the end of their season are also an option.”

The English Champion Stakes is another high profile race having been won by the likes of New Approach, Cirrus des Aigles and Frankel last year.

Ocean Park was offered by Trelawney Stud at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale and the Stud will offer a half-brother to the Cox Plate winner by Pins on the second day of the Karaka Premier Sale (Tuesday 29 January) at Lot 330.

“Ocean Park’s dam Sayyida throws lovely types,” commented Trelawney Stud principal Brent Taylor. “Having Ocean Park make $150,000 in the 2010 Select Sale and then Lady Sayyida (Iffraaj) top the Select Sale the following year is a testament to that and the Pins colt is very much in that mould, he’s a lovely type.”

Lady Sayyida (Iffraaj) topped the 2011 Select Sale when purchased by her trainer Roger James for $290,000.

ENDS

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