Second up following a long 10 month break, OCEAN TREATY looked vulnerable from the outside gate in her first run at Eagle Farm. Yet the lightly raced 5 year old back marker defied a betting drift and a steady tempo to land the money in the lucky last Saturday under a rails hugging ride from Stephanie Thornton.
The OCEAN PARK mare had put together an impressive record of 4 wins on the bounce over last year’s winter however a 1400m B75 looked a tad sharp after a plain return on an affected surface in midweek company at Doomben on August 18.
Dropping over her neck on jumping, Steph took up a rearward position before stealing some inside runs coming to the turn. Sticking to the rails on straightening, OCEAN TREATY proved strongest on the line to win by half a length.
The O’Dea/Hoysted team plan to extend this promising stayer’s distances in coming weeks and months with an eye on some black type events next winter if she proves good enough.
A $NZ200k purchase from the draft of Haunui Farm, the stoutly bred mare boasts a pedigree rich in STAKES winners so to reach that level herself would add considerably to her value. So far she’s notched five wins and a placing from only 10 starts.
It’s been an excellent start to the season for the PROVEN colours. Saturday’s victory represents the 5th trip to the winner’s circle in 5 weeks.