Guarantor
Trish Dunell
Awapuni stayer Guarantor is doing his best to convince his connections that he's worthy of a start in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup.
"That's certainly a possibility and a race we could seriously look at now," said trainer Mark Oulaghan, who won the Barfoot & Thompson-sponsored feature in 2014 with another late-maturing type in Who Shot Thebarman.
"This horse has taken a while to mature and he looks like he's there now."
Guarantor's cup odds were slashed from $51 to $21 after he made short work of his rivals in Saturday's Power Farming 2400 at Te Rapa.
"I don't think we have to worry about his ability to stay," Oulaghan said. "He ticks that box."
He won his maiden over a mile, but it is over ground that he has found his niche with success so far up to 2500 metres for a syndicate that includes his Manawatu breeder Peter Tennant.
Guarantor was passed in at Karaka in 2011, despite a modest $5000 reserve, and Tennant now has no regrets about the Howbaddouwantit gelding's lack of sale ring appeal.
"He's a big horse who has taken a long time to mature," he said. "Mark has always held him in high regard, we've just had to wait a bit."
Settled one off the fence at Te Rapa by Michael Coleman, Guarantor strode to the front 250 metres from home to a convincing length and three quarter victory.
"He gave me a nice ride and settled well," Michael Coleman said. "He's a big-striding horse and once I peeled out he travelled into it and was smooth to the line." – NZ Racing Desk.
"That's certainly a possibility and a race we could seriously look at now," said trainer Mark Oulaghan, who won the Barfoot & Thompson-sponsored feature in 2014 with another late-maturing type in Who Shot Thebarman.
"This horse has taken a while to mature and he looks like he's there now."
Guarantor's cup odds were slashed from $51 to $21 after he made short work of his rivals in Saturday's Power Farming 2400 at Te Rapa.
"I don't think we have to worry about his ability to stay," Oulaghan said. "He ticks that box."
He won his maiden over a mile, but it is over ground that he has found his niche with success so far up to 2500 metres for a syndicate that includes his Manawatu breeder Peter Tennant.
Guarantor was passed in at Karaka in 2011, despite a modest $5000 reserve, and Tennant now has no regrets about the Howbaddouwantit gelding's lack of sale ring appeal.
"He's a big horse who has taken a long time to mature," he said. "Mark has always held him in high regard, we've just had to wait a bit."
Settled one off the fence at Te Rapa by Michael Coleman, Guarantor strode to the front 250 metres from home to a convincing length and three quarter victory.
"He gave me a nice ride and settled well," Michael Coleman said. "He's a big-striding horse and once I peeled out he travelled into it and was smooth to the line." – NZ Racing Desk.