Ocean Park Lashes Quality Field in G3

The three-year-old son of Thorn Park, Ocean Park (NZ), showed that he is a colt with a big future when he lead an NZB trifecta with a stunning four-and-a-half-length victory in the Group 3 $70,000 Phil Cataldo
Bloodstock Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Trained by Gary Hennessy, Ocean Park (Thorn Park x Sayyida, by Zabeel) was slow from the gates and raced at the back of the field with jockey Chad Ormsby stoking the colt up at the 600 metres and bringing him wide on the turn.

In a professional performance against a tough field, Ocean Park picked up the leaders in a matter of strides after the turn, and in a hands and heels ride from Ormsby, the son of Thorn Park extended in the Trentham straight putting four-and-a-half-lengths on the field at the post.

Ocean Park has only had four starts, winning his debut and his second start, both at Ellerslie, before running second to Knight's Tour after a tough run in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas at his last start.

Now the firm favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby on 3 March, Gary Hennessy declared after the race that there's a lot of improvement left in the horse.

The win takes Thorn Park
http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=thorn+park&sale_id=159 to second place on New Zealand's Sires' Premiership with just 61 runners, 49 less than O'Reilly who currently holds first place, and 33 less than Pins who holds third.

Thorn Park has 56 entries at Karaka 2012 including:
Lot 222
http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=222&sale_id=159, the half-brother to the Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (Pins).

Lot 207
http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=207&sale_id=159, the half-brother to the Group 2 winner Hidden Asset (High Chaparral) from the Zabeel mare Fragile Asset, the same cross Ocean Park is bred on.

Ocean Park has extended Zabeel's lead on New Zealand's Broodmare Sires' Premiership where he is over $360,000 clear of Centaine. In a remarkable season, Zabeel also leads the Australian Broodmare Sires' Premiership with $6,936,883 in stakes.

Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbred Ltd, Ocean Park was purchased by his trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy who races the colt with Hong Kong owners Andrew Wong and Steve Yan. The three-year-old was purchased from Trelawney Stud http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=Trelawney+&sale_id=159&go.x=1&go.y=10 at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $150,000.

Second in the Group 3 was another promising three-year-old Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Royal Kiss) who raced mid-field and looked sharp in the straight for trainer Adrian Bull. The gelding put in a winning trial coming into the race and is also nominated for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.

Little Avondale Stud will be offering a half-sister to Nashville by Stravinsky at Lot 410 http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=410
of the Karaka Premier Sale. Running into third place and sealing the New Zealand Bloodstock trifecta
was the Jason Bridgman trained $1.3 million colt Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice x Grand Echezeaux) who put in a good performance running from the back of the field to take third place. Burgundy also holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby.

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 National Yearling Sales Series is set to commence on Monday 30 January at the earlier time of 10am. For news and sales information visit www.nzb.co.nz.

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