King Oberon
Trish Dunell
King Oberon's prospects of crediting Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors with a third New Zealand Cup have been given a further boost.
The progressive son of Savabeel successfully bridged the gap to premier company at Hastings on Saturday when he took full advantage of a lucky break to triumph in the Trinity Hill 2100.
Connors acknowledged their good fortune that a rails run opened up in time for the five-year-old to surge through and continue his impressive run of form.
"I thought we were going to need luck and we got it so I'm thrilled," said Connors, who races King Oberon with his father Mark.
The same combination celebrated consecutive wins in the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with Blood Brotha in 2011 and 2012.
King Oberon has now won four of his six starts and he will make one more appearance before he heads to Christchurch.
Apprentice Shaun McKay, who is unbeaten in three rides on the horse, is in no doubt that King Oberon can cope with 3200 metres of the Riccarton feature on November 12.
"He was better on top of the ground today than on a wet track," he said. "He's still looking for more ground as well."
McKay had King Oberon loping along behind the pace on the fence, but he was worried when runners began circling the field 800 metres from home and they were hemmed in.
"I was hoping a gap would open up and we got the dream run," McKay said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The progressive son of Savabeel successfully bridged the gap to premier company at Hastings on Saturday when he took full advantage of a lucky break to triumph in the Trinity Hill 2100.
Connors acknowledged their good fortune that a rails run opened up in time for the five-year-old to surge through and continue his impressive run of form.
"I thought we were going to need luck and we got it so I'm thrilled," said Connors, who races King Oberon with his father Mark.
The same combination celebrated consecutive wins in the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with Blood Brotha in 2011 and 2012.
King Oberon has now won four of his six starts and he will make one more appearance before he heads to Christchurch.
Apprentice Shaun McKay, who is unbeaten in three rides on the horse, is in no doubt that King Oberon can cope with 3200 metres of the Riccarton feature on November 12.
"He was better on top of the ground today than on a wet track," he said. "He's still looking for more ground as well."
McKay had King Oberon loping along behind the pace on the fence, but he was worried when runners began circling the field 800 metres from home and they were hemmed in.
"I was hoping a gap would open up and we got the dream run," McKay said. – NZ Racing Desk.