show me:

Guarantor rewarding trainer’s patience

3 minute read

Mark Oulaghan has successfully played a waiting game with Guarantor, who will now bid to double the respected Awapuni trainer’s tally in the country’s premier staying event.

Guarantor winning the M Ewen & Assoc. Kaimai Stakes Picture: Trish Dunell

He has his sights firmly set on the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, a race he won in 2014 with Who Shot Thebarman, for the late-maturing gelding.

A Rating 85 winner at Te Rapa earlier this month, Guarantor is now a $14 chance for the Ellerslie feature after further success in Saturday’s Listed Marks Ewen & Associates Kaimai Stakes at Matamata.

“I thought he had a bit against him today and I was a bit surprised he won,” Oulaghan said.

He felt the drop back from 2400 to 2000 metres on a smaller track could have brought about Guarantor’s downfall, but the six-year-old was up to the challenge.

Rider Michael Coleman settled the son of Howbaddouwantit in midfield on a good speed and improved across the top.

Guarantor came with a sustained finish to beat Thee Auld Floozie and the brave pacemaker Matimba held third from the topweight Silverdale.

“He’s taken a while to develop, but he’s really strengthened this time around,” Oulaghan said. “He’s heading in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, the lightly-tried mare Perfect Fit also confirmed a tilt at a Group feature during the Auckland Cup carnival with her runaway win in the Waikato Stud 1200.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old took her record to four wins from nine appearances and will step out next in the Gr.3 Westbury Classic at Ellerslie on March 12.