New Zealand-bred gelding Step Aside (NZ) took his earnings to the brink of half a million dollars with a well-timed finish in Saturday’s A$160,000 Petaluma Handicap (1300m) at Randwick.
The Chris Waller-trained son of Redwood has now won six races in his 26-start career, backed up by five second placings and four thirds. The six-year-old has earned A$480,400 for his OTI Racing ownership syndicate.
Step Aside is proving to be particularly effective at the 1300m distance. Saturday’s race was his 11th attempt at the trip, over which he has now recorded four wins and three placings.
Step Aside headed to Randwick on Saturday for his second-up assignment over 1300m. Apprentice jockey Siena Grima angled him to the outside in the straight and began to move him through his gears. He drew up alongside Mafia, Alabama State and Plundering with 100m to run, and finished over the top of them to win by just under a length.
OTI Racing took special satisfaction from the win, which capped a Saturday double for New Zealand-breds carrying their navy blue and gold hooped colours. Wymark (NZ) had previously taken out the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath.
The above is an excerpt from NZ Racing Desk’s Racing News article, which can be read here.