By Duane Ranger
Both the Ohoka Punter and Besotted camps were more than happy with their first runs of the 2015-2016 season at Alexandra Park last Friday.
The two open class guns were predictable favourites for the $14,999 Chevalier Wholesale Produce C3 and faster pace.
Ana at the end of the 2200m mobile Ohoka Punter and his trainer Tony Herlihy (MNZM) had half a length to spare over a gutsy Besotted and comeback driver David Butcher. There were more than four lengths back to Unforgiving (Steven Reid) in third.
Both pacers will now target the Spring Cup on October 1 and then the Holmes D G Vase on October 16. Then their paths probably won’t cross again until the lead-up races to the Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park in December.
Herlihy said he would make a decision as to when he heads south for the New Zealand Cup, probably after the Vase, while Besotted won’t be lining up in the big race on November 10.
Besotted’s owner John Street of Lincoln Farms, said it would be too big an ask for his 7-year-old American Ideal gelding to line up in a gruelling 3200 staying event so soon.
“He’s been side-lined for 16 months so we won’t be tackling the New Zealand Cup. That would not be in the best interests of the horse. The Spring Cup, The Holmes D G Vase and longer term the Auckland Cup are the goals,” Street said.
“Ray (Green – trainer) and I were delighted with his first run back tonight. He showed a lot of toughness and can only get better,” he added.
Ohoka Punter drew the outside of the second row but because there were no horses in front of him, Herlihy managed to surge the 6-year-old quickly to the front after just 250 metres.
After a 41.6 lead time Herlihy then controlled all the pace with the New Zealand Cup seventh ranked pacer.
Besotted sat back from his second row draw and then went and eye-balled ‘Punter’ down the back straight the last time. Herlihy always had the race in safe-keeping but Besotted was brave up the straight.
Ardmore-based Herlihy rated the performance an “eight or nine” out of 10.
“I was rapt with the run. I was just glad the Club could get the race off the ground because he badly needs racing and has some way to go to where I want him to be.
“He loves racing though and he will get stronger. I’m looking forward to the Cup because apart from Christen Me I think we have beaten nearly all of the others at some stage of his career,” Herlihy said.
Meanwhile, Rhys, Penny, Tabatha and Toby Fensom also stole the limelight on Friday.
Twenty-five-year-old Tabatha won her third career race (and third at Alexandra Park) when she reined the Matthew Pemberton trained Dead Cat Bounce to win fresh-up in the fourth event – a C1-C3 trot.
Then four races later Dad (Rhys) and Wimbaliri won the Powell Maiden Pace.
Twenty hours earlier Fensom’s wife Penny, who is the trainer of Wimbaliri, gave birth to a son – Toby David.
“This has been a day I won’t forget in a while. I’m a very proud Dad and it’s good to see Tabatha win early on as well. It’s been a great day for the family,” Fensom said.
Toby is his fourth child. As well as Tabatha and Toby Fensom also has two other daughters – Paige (13) and Zoe, who will be two next month.
As for Wimbaliri, Fensom had this to say about the promising 4-year-old Gotta Go Cullect gelding:
“Not much went right last campaign. He sticks pretty good and he was always travelling well tonight. We have always had a bit of time for him. He can only get better,” Fensom said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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