Deebee Zapower, a consistent performer, defied a couple of lacklustre outings to reclaim his winning form at Rotorua on Sunday.
The six-year-old Power gelding had previously impressed with a victory at Te Rapa in August, but subsequent races at Te Rapa and Hastings saw him finish towards the rear.
Trainer Gavin Opie chose to focus on the positive side of things, despite the two disappointing runs.
He had a clear vision for Deebee Zapower on Sunday, and the horse delivered as expected.
Under the guidance of apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Deebee Zapower settled off the pace. He made a spectacular move, surging four wide around the home bend, ultimately winning comfortably by a three-length margin over Gwen’s Daughter.
“His last two runs looked bad on paper but actually weren’t as disappointing as some were saying,” said Opie.
He had nothing go his way at either Hastings or Te Rapa, so we went into today with plenty of confidence.”
With this victory, the team is now looking ahead to more significant challenges. Opie is considering an open 1500m contest as the next target for Deebee Zapower, who has now secured four wins in his 20 starts.
“He is getting up in the weights now, so I think we will try for an open handicap next time.
“There is a nice 1500m open at Pukekohe at the end of the month, and he will get some weight relief in it, which will suit him nicely.”
Opie also expressed his satisfaction with the recent performances of his small team at Te Aroha, with Just A Tipple contributing to the win record with three victories in the last six starts.
“Things have been going well for us, and all of our horses seem to be rounding into form nicely. We only have a small team, so getting wins from them on a Saturday is a real buzz.”
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