Lightly raced four-year-old Ocean Beyond had been building towards a return to the winner’s circle and under a patient Harry Coffey ride, the breaks went his way on Saturday when winning the A$150,000 Tonks Plate Handicap (1200m) at Ballarat.
Prepared by Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman, the son of Ocean Park has run well this spring and came from midfield on the rail to gain a split closer to the fence to secure his first win since landing the Listed Mitchell McKenzie (1200m) nearly 12 months ago.
“I thought Harry gave him the perfect run throughout and when he ran into a little bit of trouble – he has been unlucky a few times this prep – I was thinking ‘oh no not again’ but Harry was able to push his way through and get the job done,” said Bowman’s wife Denita, who was representing the stable.
“He has been running well in tougher grade and Harry just gave him the perfect ride, Daniel has trained him to perfection. Onwards and upwards from here.”
Popular hoop Harry Coffey, who got married last weekend and had his first rides back at Moonee Valley on Friday night, was thrilled to bring up his third win on the gelding, whom he has ridden in each of his eight starts.
“It’s good to get a win. It has been a big week but I must admit I had a couple of rides last night and then him today, I’m a little bit rusty,” Coffey said.
“But good that we had a bit of luck and the gaps came. He’s a horse who has a really good turn-of-foot especially if he’s held up and even though it doesn’t look pretty, sometimes when he is held up and that gap comes he can really be explosive through it.
“At the top of the straight it was probably a bit of an ugly watch, but I knew that he has a really good turn-of-foot and I tried to be patient.
“I was a bit rusty, but the horse makes me look good.
“There were a couple of tight little runs and I thought I’m better off waiting until the gaps come rather than forcing the runs because when the gaps come he can go through, but he’ll let go a lot better if he had to barge his way out.
“He’s not an overly big or powerful horse but when he’s given room he’s got a beautiful turn-of -foot. Knowing that, it helps.”
The Swan Hill jockey has been buoyed by connections continuing to support him on the talented galloper.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck this preparation. It hasn’t gone right and the connections and Daniel, they’ve continued to put me on. And when that happens you start to know that they really want you to ride the horse and then things like that happen today and it comes off,” he said.
By Waikato Stud’s proven sire Ocean Park out of the four-win Pins mare Frankly, Bowman went to $60,000 to purchase the gelding after he was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale where he was presented by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud.
The four-year-old has now won A$211,925 in prizemoney.
