6 Apr 2024We celebrated a near perfect result in the G3 Manawatu Classic with homebreds Outovstock and Investigate dominating the finish of the Trentham age group feature.
Top honours went to Tavistock’s son Outovstock, who produced a stirring finish in the hands of rider Michael McNab to land the thick end of the stake in the 2100 metre contest.
“He travelled well, probably too well, but he picked up nicely,” McNab said.
The gelding had broken his maiden three runs back over a mile on a good track at Pukekohe before he finished runner-up on a heavy surface in his middle-distance debut at Tauranga.
“He’s come through the midweeks and then showed good staying ability the other day at Pukekohe on an off track,” McNab said.
Outovstock is trained by Chad Ormsby, who also shares in the ownership under his Riverrock Farm banner, and improved from beyond midfield before the turn to come with an irresistible finish.
“Chad’s a super horseman and an extremely hard worker who deserves all the success he gets,” McNab said.
Ormsby purchased Outovstock from our New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $50,000 before he was subsequently passed in at the Ready to Run Sale.
He is the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare Orphea, who was twice successful and a sister to the G1 Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic.
Orphea’s Too Darn Hot colt was purchased by Ciaron Maher at Karaka in 2023 for $130,000, her daughter of Deep Field was bought at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale by Capri Racing & Syndication for A$100,000 and she had a Savabeel colt last season.
Dundeel three-year-old Investigate did a sterling job to finish runner-up to Outovstock off the back of his maiden victory in a modest event at New Plymouth.
“He’ll be better next preparation, he’s quite a lightly framed type and is a genuine stayer,” trainer Tony Pike said.
Investigate was a $70,000 Karaka purchase for Jim Brufoed's Brewers Bloodstock and is son of the winning Lawman mare Mitigate, who we purchased for 50,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale.
Mitigate’s first foal Hilary’s Boy has won four times in England and the dam also has an unraced juvenile filly by So You Think and is back in foal to the multiple Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral.