Opawa Jack has come of age in his four-year-old autumn preparation and his trainer Chrissy Bambry anticipates the best is still yet to come.
The son of War Decree showed early promise over staying distances and contested the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last season, but a year down the track he has won three of his last five starts, comparatively on Awapuni Synthetic over 1200m and in Heavy 10 track conditions at Wanganui.
With more of a preference for the drier surface, Bambry has elected to target the Special Conditions 2000m race on the Cambridge Synthetic in a fortnight, with the suitable lead-in race closer to her Foxton base being the Uzabus Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday.
“He doesn’t really like a wet track, he was probably just the best horse on the day (at Wanganui),” Bambry said.
“When it’s a little bit puggy like that he seems to handle it, but he doesn’t appreciate it loose.
“I think he’ll acquit himself well on Saturday, he’s well-weighted in that race but there’s a few wet trackers that will like it a bit more than he will.
“He should still be running well and it should tighten him up nicely for the Cambridge Synthetic final in the first week of August.”
Looking ahead, Bambry is happy to continue taking her time with the gelding, with a multiple Group One-winning stayer among his pedigree page.
“He’s a lot stronger this prep and will be better this time next year, he’s out of a half-sister to Who Shot Thebarman so time is always going to be his friend,” she said.
Bambry will also be represented by Rock Angel and Saint Bernard at Otaki, with the former a three-year-old Road To Rock mare on debut in the Ilone Kelly Racing Stables Maiden (1600m).
“She loves a wet track this little mare, so she should go well but obviously she hasn’t got the race-day experience and we’ve got a horror draw (20),” Bambry said.
“If she can do everything right on the day I can see her being in the finish.”
Saint Bernard was a winner two starts back on the Awapuni Synthetic, and will have the benefit of experienced hoop Johnathan Parkes on board in the Riverside Construction Handicap (2100m).
“He’s going well and trained on from his last run, it’s a big assist having Parkesy aboard him,” Bambry said.
“It’ll be a bit of a wait and see whether he can handle the wet track at Otaki, but he should run well.”
