Two OTI gallopers now bound for Tassie

- Angus Boyd

Over the past week, two horses in the OTI stable have booked themselves a trip across the Bass Strait.

Daqiansweet Junior, a winner of his last four starts, will likely contest the 2400m Group 3 Hobart Cup at Hobart on February 13 ($250,000), and Prospettiva, our impressive Warrnambool maiden winner, looks bound for the 2100m Listed Tasmanian Oaks at Launceston a week later ($150,000).

The former, now a winner of six races from just 15 starts, is certainly deserving of his chance in the Hobart Cup having worked his way through the grades so impressively. His versatility and will to win are proving most favourable attributes. Trainer Phillip Stokes said post-race “Full credit to the team at Pakenham, they’ve done a fantastic job with him, he gets a gallop on the good surface at Pakenham and then does all his training at the farm.

He’s strong and the tempo suited and he gets his ticket to Tasmania (Hobart Cup). I haven’t had a runner there so I’ll need to do a bit of research but I’ll work that out.”

Having just her second start, Prospettiva, a daughter of Reliable Man, who is known for producing Oaks fillies, showed strong staying ability when running away from the field at Warrnambool last Thursday.

Though she’s a filly who will undoubtedly improve with more time on her side, trainer Matthew Williams feels the Tasmanian Oaks presents as a great chance for her to add black-type at an early stage of her career. With the experience of a flight from New Zealand under her belt, she’s well-poised to handle the travel, whether that be by plane or boat!

We are sure with borders now open, many of our owners will take the chance to fly over and see these two promising horses in action in Tasmania.