Roger James has unveiled an exciting prospect in his attempt to add a seventh $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) to his record, in the form of unbeaten three-year-old Oceana Dream.
James has prepared half a dozen Derby winners in his career, the most recent being last year’s demolition job by star filly Orchestral, which was his first in partnership with Robert Wellwood.
Oceana Dream, a gelding by Ocean Park, debuted with a comfortable win over 1400m on January 2 and stepped out to the mile in last Saturday’s Trelawney Stud (1600m) at Ellerslie. In the hands of George Rooke, Oceana Dream had an outside draw to contend with and he covered plenty of extra ground in the running, racing three-wide before coming into the centre of the track on straightening.
Another favoured runner in Ridefromtheashes hit the lead early in the straight and fought hard to hold out Oceana Dream, but the gelding pinned his ears back and lifted late to take the win by a head.
“I thought it was excellent, he was stuck three-wide, he worked everywhere, and he showed tenacity to get to the line,” James said. “I thought it was a very good run and he’s still learning, there’s a lot of areas for improvement.
“The Derby is absolutely the main aim for him, probably through the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m).”
Bred and raced by Judi and Ron Wanless, Oceana Dream has shortened to $12 in the TAB Futures market for the Derby, which will be run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8.
While missing the major spoils, the Cambridge trainers picked up placings in each of the feature races at Ellerslie, including the fast-improving Hasstobeawinner finishing runner-up to Group One winner El Vencedor in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m).
The son of Vadamos commenced his season in Rating 65 grade, and in a matter of two months, won the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final before recording the quickest last 600m in a strong open-class field on Saturday.
“I thought that was enormous, he was the only one to come out of the pack from a long way off them to run towards a Group One winner at his first start in open company,” James said.
“It just confirmed that he is up to the best and he’ll probably get a good one, one day.”
Younger stablemate Vittoria was on debut in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) and showed she has a bright future ahead, running third and just 1.3 lengths from the hot-favourite and winner Return To Conquer.
“She’d only had one trial and she was last away in that trial, but she showed good improvement as I’d hoped for, because she’s got a great brain,” James said.
“She bounced the barriers nicely, she got a bit green on the turn and pulled a shoe, but she picked herself up nicely and got to the line nicely, so there will be improvement again with her. All in all, it was a good effort.
“We’ll just observe her over the next week or so and make a decision from there (where to next).”
Moving into the new week, James and Wellwood, alongside Orchestral’s owners Colin and Helen Litt, are still in discussions around her next start, which could be in Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
“We haven’t made a final decision on the Herbie Dyke yet, we’re having a meeting with the owners this afternoon (Monday) and we’ll make a call as to which course we take,” James said.
The Litt’s homebred filly High Elation will feature later in the week at Tauranga, having her second start in the Laser Electrical Mount Maunganui Maiden 3YO (1200m). A filly by I Am Invincible, High Elation is out of Elate, who won the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and placed at Group Three level for the stable.
On debut after trialling one year ago to the day, High Elation finished second to Detain and James was complimentary of her effort.
“All merit to her, she’d only had one trial which was about a year earlier and I thought her run was very good,” he said. “She heads to Tauranga on Friday and I’m looking forward to it.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
