Osipenko and Zou Tiger have fought out the finish in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes with the Chris Waller-trained colt getting his nose down on the line to score.
With a lot of speed injected in the race, due to the race favourite Aft Cabin and Communist racing each other to hold the lead, it set the race up for a swooper to finish strong and that’s exactly what Osipenko did under the urgings of Nash Rawiller.
The Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas favourite, Aft Cabin, was made to work out wide after jumping from barrier 11, which ultimately ruined any chance of the Godolphin colt running out a strong 1400m.
Osipenko jumped as a $7.50 third favourite with online betting sites and when you consider his run in the Caulfield Guineas last preparation, finishing half a length behind Golden Mile, he looks to be a strong chance in the Rosehill and Randwick Guineas.
2023 Hobartville Stakes Replay – Osipenko
Chris Waller has now won the Hobartville Stakes for the third time in seven years and his head foreman Charlie Duckworth spoke post-race about the win.
“He was fantastic in the spring, he came back and had a horrible run of things first-up over 1200m,” Duckworth said.
“Nash (Rawiller) made amends today and gave him an absolute peach.
“He began much better from the barriers, put himself in the perfect (position in the) run and made it very difficult for the short-priced favourite who had to work hard.
“Nash (Rawiller) just bided his time up the straight and said ‘yahoo Sally’ at the 200m and off we went.
“Bring on the mile.
“I’m confident he will stay beyond that as well, but the ultimate goal is the Guineas next start and if he can do that then he’s a valuable commodity for the great group of owners we’ve got involved.”
Nash Rawiller brought up a double on Silver Slipper Stakes Day, with both of those winners being for the Waller stable.
“I was a lot happier after we stepped a bit better today,” Rawiller said.
“I’ve got to say I was shattered after his first-up run.
“We just drew barrier three, got caught three-wide third-last, hanging out.
“To only finish three and a half lengths off them I thought was very credible and thankfully the owners have stuck solid and given me another chance.
“I think he was above himself, he needed that to take the edge off him.
“Today he was a more professional colt. Really happy to get the job done.”
Osipenko has shortened into a $6 chance in the Randwick Guineas futures markets with online bookmakers.
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