We are thrilled to have secured the promising 3yo colt from New Zealand, Blue Ocean. On the back of a most impressive and quite unlucky 3rd placing on debut earlier this month, Blue Ocean has now arrived at the stables of Phillip Stokes in Pakenham.
It is expected he will run by the end of October, gaining experience through the remainder of 2019. He will then be aimed at the 3yo autumn 2020 classics in South Australia and Queensland, with a view to then graduating to Open Age racing in the spring of 2020.
Prior to his first race, Blue Ocean had three educational trials. The first two over unsuitably short distances were encouraging. He finished just behind the placegetters on both occasions. Stepping up to 1200m for this third and final trial, he showed his class and won the trial running away by a length.
Stepping out on debut at Taupo on September 20 over 1300m, Blue Ocean was most impressive. Slow to begin and at the tail of the field in the early stages, he worked to midfield and then displayed a strong turn of foot on straightening. Coming up the inside on the fence, he appeared green and was hampered for momentum at the 250m, before surging at the leader late. He finished 3rd, beaten just a neck.
View Blue Ocean’s race replay below. The jockey wears the yellow and grey silks and makes his way along the inside rail:
We are looking forward to seeing this exciting colt make his Australian debut in the coming weeks.
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