Power 3yo on Guineas path

 
13 Aug 2017

Steven Cole convinced his stakes placed juvenile Ohceedee is ready for an ambitious three-year- old campaign that has a Group One goal as the main target.

The rangy Power gelding finished off nicely to run second in an open 1000m heat as he prepares for his campaign opener at Te Rapa this weekend.

The run thrilled Cole who hadn’t expected his charge to be happy in the testing track conditions.

“I didn’t think he would really handle that type of ground so all I was looking for was a tidy effort where he did things under his own steam,” Cole said.

“As it turned out he missed away a little but then got going and ran home nicely to be beaten a short margin without being asked for a serious effort.

“Alysha [Collett, jockey] came back in and confirmed he didn’t handle the track at all but she said he felt fantastic and had strengthened up nicely from his two-year-old campaign.”

Ohceedee was placed twice from four starts as a juvenile including an eye-catching performance to finish third behind the highly rated Haussmann in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes.

“We put him away after his last run at Ellerslie as he had done plenty for his first preparation,” Cole said.

“We initially had thoughts about the Karaka Million but when he didn’t qualify we decided to take things slowly with his three-year-old year in mind. Since then the plan has been to try and get him to the 2000 Guineas as he appeals as the ideal type for the big, roomy Riccarton track.

“He will go to Te Rapa for the three-year- old 1100m race and depending on how he goes he will then run again at Ruakaka a fortnight later. The Hawkes Bay Guineas would be his first big test if he is going as well as we think he can and then on to Riccarton after that.” - NZ Racing Desk