This time last year Conor O’Ceirin was getting ready to tackle the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) on his home track of New Plymouth, but 12 months on trainer Robbie Patterson has elected to bypass the local feature in favour of chasing a lucrative southern bonus.
The seven-year-old gelding has crossed the Cook Strait and trekked south to Oamaru where he will line up in the Oamaru Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
Patterson has targeted the southern feature as the key lead-in race for next month’s Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, a race Conor O’Ceirin finished in third last year, with the added bonus of potentially becoming eligible for a lucrative bonus.
“That race (Oamaru Cup) fitted in nicely heading into the Winter Cup,” Patterson said. “He doesn’t race that well at New Plymouth, so we thought we would go down there, and there is a $100,000 bonus if you can win the Oamaru Cup and Winter Cup.
“He is tricky at the weights with 60 kilos, but he is there and should be competitive.
“It (Oamaru Cup) has come up really competitive, he will know he has been at the races.”
Stablemate Margherita Veloce has also made the float trip south after placing at Trentham last weekend.
The daughter of Vespa will tackle the Thank You Oamaru Jockey Club Supporters (1400m) ahead of Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing next month.
“It’s a quick back-up from last Saturday and she should target a couple of races over the Winter Cup Carnival,” Patterson said.
“She will improve a heap with that run the other day, she hadn’t raced for a long time. Ciel (Butler, apprentice jockey) has made the trip down to ride her, so she gets in well at the weights.
“I expect a really good run from her, she has gone down south before and won and run second at Riccarton, so there is no reason why she wouldn’t be competitive on Sunday.”
Horse racing news
