Prominent trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior have another promising youngster on their hands, after Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park) registered a dominant debut victory at Bendigo on Sunday.
Purchased in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo after a trial win in New Zealand, Otago had shown solid ability in the lead-up to his first start, winning both of his jumpouts at Cranbourne.
The three-year-old son of Ocean Park was sent off as the favourite for the Drake Maiden over 1300m and settled in the second half of the field under Beau Mertens. He then loomed ominously approaching the home turn and while the leader Sparkling provided some resistance to his challenge, he was too classy in the final 100m, scoring by over two lengths on the line.
Mertens noted that Otago gave him a similar feel on debut to what he had done in his jumpouts.
“He’s exactly the same at the trials, he gave me a really good feel whilst probably still being a bit green and inexperienced, which we expect,” Mertens said.
“Even today, it felt like he put them away nicely, but he was doing it a touch wrong, so the horse has got a lot of upside.”
The Group 1-winning jockey suggested that Otago won with a bit left in hand.
“I think he’s got a lot more to give,” Mertens said.
“I think he’s a nice horse, like I said, he’s still not 100 per cent wound up and I think when he gets there, he’s going to progress into a really nice horse.”