Memorable week for OTI

Angus Boyd

It was an incredible weekend for the OTI colours and connections of Hezashocka, Warmonger and Amade!

Last weekend, after a thrilling win from Sevenna’s Knight in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp, France, the OTI colours were popular again in the winner’s stall over the past few days. Saturday’s success started with Hezashocka taking out the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

After winning the Listed Gosford Gold Cup at Newcastle two starts ago and an unlucky run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, the gelding has proven he’s in a rich vein of form. It was a thrilling day for his ownership group, who now look forward to watching him in the $1.2m Group 2 Q22 on June 15.

Hezashocka wins the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

Continuing the success of Hezashocka was Warmonger. The son of War Decree demolished his rivals in the Group 1 Queensland Derby, crossing the line with a 10.4 length gap to the rest of the field.  An extraordinary performance with a margin that was last bettered when Might And Power won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes by 10.5 lengths in 1998.

Warmonger was last seen in the Group 1 South Australian Derby, where he finished a close 2nd. Having been trapped wide throughout from the outside barrier, the crowd was left beaming when he dropped the field and powered away down the straight.

Jockey Blake Shinn commented after the race “By 10 lengths, it’s a sign of a horse whose got serious ability.”

Warmonger will now head out for a well-deserved break before returning for a spring campaign. Exact plans are yet to be confirmed, but he certainly is a horse with a very bright future ahead of him!

Rounding off the weekend with another special winning performance was 10-year-old gelding Amade. After some luckless runs, coupled with his barrier manners and gear failures, he showed his true form again on Sunday when taking out the Listed Sandown Cup for Phillip Stokes and Daniel Stackhouse.

Amade wins the Listed Sandown Cup at Sandown.

“He’s a great horse to have in the stable. He’s been in work forever, he won the Geelong Cup in the spring and we have been ticking him over ever since. It’s been a big team effort to keep him in such great order. He’s a superior stayer.”, commented trainer Phillip Stokes after the win.

Of course, Sunday’s race couldn’t have panned out without a hiccup, when the brow band on Amade’s bridle shifted when the blindfold was removed in the barriers. Stackhouse acted quickly to adjust mid-race!

Congratulations to all connections, trainers and jockeys involved in these memorable wins. We truly appreciate the support!