Third Time Lucky For Red Ora
22 March, 2018
Thoroughbred
It was a case of third time lucky for tough six-year-old Red Ora in the Listed Amelia Park-Bunbury Stakes (1400m), proving too strong for his rivals in this afternon’s sprint feature.
After finishing eighth in 2016, and fourth to former stablemate Man Booker last year, Red Ora had no such trouble in his third shot at the $120,000 event in a display which suggested he could be close to career best form.
Jockey Shaun Mc Gruddy was forced to settle three deep with cover in the run, but despite covering a little extra ground he was still able to lift the gelding to victory.
Oliver’s Travels, who finished second, put in a performance that suggested he would be able to measure up in Listed company in future preparations, while Falcon Crest put in another strong display to finish third.
Race favourite Ellicazoom wasn’t able to make up ground in the straight, and finished seventh.
Red Ora was having just his fourth start for the Steve Wolfe stable, following his win in the Mungrup Stud Sprint in January, before he finished fourth to Rebel King in the Scenic Blast Stakes and second to Battle Hero in the Pinjarra Classic.
Wolfe paid tribute to Red Ora’s previous trainer Dan Morton after the race, and said he had taken over the training of a horse thatt was fit and well.
“He was pretty good before I got him,” Wolfe said.
“Danny did a good job with him, I’ve just been lucky to get him at the back end of things.”
Wolfe said he had plenty of confidence going into the time-honoured event, following the gelding’s last start Pinjarra Classic.
“I knew he was no worse than last week,” he said.
“The field was a bit weaker than last week, without being disrespectful, but the horse that beat him last week was a good horse.”
The win took Red Ora’s record to 10 wins from 32 starts, and it was his second Listed win, after he won the 2016 Scenic Blast Stakes.
BREEDERS CLASSIC
Meanwhile, a little over a month ago, trainer Darren McAuliffe had impressive three-year-olds Abdicator and The Big Show win on successive Wednesday’s at Ascot.
McAuliffe had a plan to keep the pair apart in their races, and that paid handsome dividends this afternoon with Abdicator successful in the Listed-Rangeview Stud Classic (1400m) at Bunbury.
The Universal Ruler gelding recorded a comfortable first-up win at Bunbury on Australia Day, a win that led McAuliffe to target this afternoon’s Listed event.
A last start third to Private Dancer in the Listed Challenge Stakes on March 3 ensured Abdicator was prominent in the betting for the $100,000 event, starting second favourite behind Fine Scent.
After the race, McAuliffe said it was pleasing to have a long term plan work out successfully.
“This was his Grand Final,” McAuliffe said.
“This was the race we set him for.
“Obviously if you go back through his form he won a Class One here earlier this preparation…there’s a method in everything I do.
“We will get another run out of him, probably in the Raconteur.”
Abdicator was slightly slow away for jockey Daniel Staeck, which allowed another well fancied runner Salubrious to control the race in front.
Jarrad Noske dropped the tempo aboard Salubrious in the middle stages of the race, while Staeck pushed Abdicator into second place outside the leader in running.
Fine Scent and Sweet Dreamin’ ran on gamely from midfield, but couldn’t catch Abdicator, and had to settle for second and third respectively.
The win took Abdicator’s record to four wins from eight starts, and will look for his second Listed success in the Raconteur Stakes on April 7 at Ascot.
Tim Walker