Second Group 2 Win for Ocean Emperor (NZ)

Highly talented Karaka graduate Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel) was right back at his brilliant best on his home track of Matamata on Saturday, scoring the second Group 2 win of his career in the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Japan-NZ Trophy (1600m).

Ocean Emperor is out of the well-bred and Group 1-placed mare Tootsie (NZ) (Pins), and he cost $450,000 at the 2013 Premier Sale.

The imposing entire lived up to his price tag and reputation in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) in November, beating a high-quality field including the multiple Group 1 winner Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel).

Things went wrong for Ocean Emperor through the summer, but he turned things around in style on Saturday. Ridden by Shaun McKay, he moved forward from midfield to challenge the front-running Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) in the straight.

Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock) joined in out wide in an exciting battle, but Ocean Emperor fought his rivals off and scored by a length.

Ocean Emperor is raced by his trainer Gary Hennessy in partnership with Andrew Wong and Steve Yan. He has now had 22 starts for seven wins and five placings.

“He hasn’t had a lot of luck through the summer, but on his day he’s a really good horse,” Hennessy said. “We might look at the Kranji Mile now.”

The S$1.5 million Kranji Mile (1600m) will be held on May 26.

Saturday’s result was a Karaka quinella, with Tiptronic a $100,000 purchase at the 2015 Premier Sale.