October (NZ) (Ocean Park) put his head down where it mattered in an exciting three-way finish in the S$75,000 Restricted Maiden race (1400m) on Saturday.
Coming from fourth position one-off the rails in the running, the Stephen Gray-trained three-year-old was set alight on the outside by jockey Ryan Curatolo at the 400m, with two other promising youngsters, Fire and favourite June joining in the fight at the 200m.
Fire got the upper hand momentarily at the 150m mark, but the two Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned horses on his inside, October and June, were still up for the tussle. Under a hard drive from Duric, it looked like June could win the bob from October, but when push came to shove, the latter proved hard to mow down.
The son of Ocean Park fought back and took out his first win by a head. Fire came in second while June was nosed out into third.
Assistant-trainer Saimee Jumaat knew October was not quite the finished article yet but was relieved to see him get on the board at his fifth start.
“He was ‘floating around’ in the straight and I wasn’t too sure, but when the other horse (Fire) came alongside him, he picked up again,” said the former champion jockey, who stood in for Gray who was in New Zealand for the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
“He’s still a bit green but he’s come on a bit from the last couple of runs.
“He’s done a good job and we’ll see how he goes. He’s bred to stay and he’s looking for more grounds.
“It would be nice to have a Novice race next for him to progress naturally before he goes to open company. It could be 1400m or 1600m for him next.
“He was supposed to be (jockey) Matthew’s (Kellady) ride, but unfortunately, he’s out for now, so we were lucky to have Ryan for the ride.
“He (Curatolo) did take the horse out for a canter over the week once. He had to know the horse because he’s (October) still a bit quirky.”
October ran second at his last two starts when ridden by Kellady, but the latter is currently on the sidelines after suffering multiple fractures to his eye socket when Gemilang reared in the parade ring last Saturday.
The in-form French rider agreed October was a bit immature, but he had the right amount in the tank to finish on top of the rest.
“He felt good in the morning, was nice and relaxed, but he’s so much better on the turf and proved it today,” he said.
“The trainer (Gray) put him on the right distance. We had a good draw (four).
“He’s a bit green on the line when I asked him to go, but after going ‘left and right’ for a couple of times, he found just enough to put his head in front at the right time.
“I think 1400m might be the best distance for him now.”
Bought for NZ$60,000 from the Ohukia Lodge draft as a two-year-old at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, October has now taken his earnings to over S$50,000 for connections.