Odisha
Trish Dunell
A stunning finish from near last by promising mare Odisha saw her claim victory in emphatic fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Nigel Tiley trained four-year-old had produced a similar effort at the track back in December however she was one of the forgotten runners in the Distinction Hamilton Hotel sponsored 1400m event as punters installed last start Ellerslie winner Break My Stride as a commanding favourite.
That favouritism looked well justified as Break My Stride enjoyed a lovely trail throughout the early stages of the race before angling into the clear to make his challenge at the top of the home straight. As the field fanned out across the track it became obvious the favourite was struggling to reel in the pacemakers and a grandstand finish was on the cards.
Just as local runner Thatsforsure was being hailed the winner at the 100 metre mark, Odisha and rider Michael McNab found the gap two off the fence and flashed up late to nab the victory.
Tiley was quick to acknowledge a heady ride by McNab.
"Michael rode her really well," he said.
"He knows her well and he knows what she is capable of doing so it was a good effort."
The performance has Tiley looking ahead to next season with the mare who he believes will only get better with age.
"She's got a bit of breeding as she's a half sister to a Group One winner," he noted.
"By Darci Brahma she's only going to get better with age.
"I think a mile is not going to be any issue for her and with another year on her, it will do her the world of good."
Tiley was referring to injury plagued galloper Historian who finished runner-up to Jimmy Choux in the 2011 New Zealand Derby before capturing a Group One double in 2013 with the Thorndon Mile at Trentham followed by the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie later that year. – NZ Racing Desk
The Nigel Tiley trained four-year-old had produced a similar effort at the track back in December however she was one of the forgotten runners in the Distinction Hamilton Hotel sponsored 1400m event as punters installed last start Ellerslie winner Break My Stride as a commanding favourite.
That favouritism looked well justified as Break My Stride enjoyed a lovely trail throughout the early stages of the race before angling into the clear to make his challenge at the top of the home straight. As the field fanned out across the track it became obvious the favourite was struggling to reel in the pacemakers and a grandstand finish was on the cards.
Just as local runner Thatsforsure was being hailed the winner at the 100 metre mark, Odisha and rider Michael McNab found the gap two off the fence and flashed up late to nab the victory.
Tiley was quick to acknowledge a heady ride by McNab.
"Michael rode her really well," he said.
"He knows her well and he knows what she is capable of doing so it was a good effort."
The performance has Tiley looking ahead to next season with the mare who he believes will only get better with age.
"She's got a bit of breeding as she's a half sister to a Group One winner," he noted.
"By Darci Brahma she's only going to get better with age.
"I think a mile is not going to be any issue for her and with another year on her, it will do her the world of good."
Tiley was referring to injury plagued galloper Historian who finished runner-up to Jimmy Choux in the 2011 New Zealand Derby before capturing a Group One double in 2013 with the Thorndon Mile at Trentham followed by the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie later that year. – NZ Racing Desk