Ohope Wins Dominates New Year’s Day Feature at Te Rapa

A promising performance from Ohope Wins secured victory in the New Year’s Day age-group feature at Te Rapa, showcasing her potential as a future star in horse racing. The filly, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, had made a strong impression two weeks earlier, finishing second in a 1600m race. This led to heightened anticipation for her entry into the traditional race on January 1, 2024.

In a race marked by strategic pacing, jockey Joe Doyle expertly navigated the field, allowing Ohope Wins to find her footing. Positioned near the back of a strung-out field, she began to make her move as the race approached the home bend. Doyle guided her to the outside, where the filly accelerated impressively. With a powerful surge in the final stretch, she overtook her competitors, winning by more than a length against Origin Of Love and Born To Be Royal.

Doyle expressed his admiration for the filly’s performance, recognizing her as a special talent. “We were a long way back and had a lot of ground to make up,” he remarked. “She is really laid-back, and when I started to give her a hard squeeze, she came up underneath me and won quite cosily in the end.” His confidence in her ability to compete at higher levels was evident as he stated, “I just think she has Oaks written all over her.”

O’Sullivan shared Doyle’s enthusiasm, noting that Ohope Wins is nominated for the New Zealand Oaks, scheduled for February 21, 2024, at Ellerslie. He highlighted the filly’s temperament and potential, saying, “We have always believed in this filly, and that was why we were lining her up today in a group 2 as a maiden.” O’Sullivan expressed hopes that she would compete in prestigious events like the Oaks or Derby in the future.

Reflecting on the race strategy, O’Sullivan mentioned that they had advised Doyle to ride her as he found her. “With races like these, you know half of the field are not going to stay as they are having their first crack at the distance,” he explained. Doyle’s decision to seek clear air proved effective, resulting in a strong ride that contributed to their success.

Ohope Wins is bred and raced by Bill Gartshore and his family under the Gartshore Bloodstock banner. She is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Choux Mania, who is a half-sister to the renowned Jimmy Choux, the 2010-11 Horse of the Year. Jimmy Choux won five group 1 races, including the 2011 New Zealand Derby, before establishing a successful breeding career at Rich Hill Stud.

As Ohope Wins continues her promising career, both her connections and racing enthusiasts will be eager to see how she performs in the upcoming New Zealand Oaks and beyond. With her talent and potential clearly on display, the future looks bright for this remarkable filly.