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The Steven Cole-trained Ohceedee was able to turn the tables on Aim Smart in the Paul Bayes Livestock Mile (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday.
The Power gelding has been in fine form this preparation, heading into Saturday’s race with a win and two placings, including a runner-up performance behind Aim Smart over 1400m at Ruakaka last month.
Jumping from barrier 13, Ohceedee was given no favours at Hastings, having to sit out three-wide the entire trip, before rallying home under jockey Matthew Cameron to beat his rival by a head.
“It was a very brave effort three-wide the trip,” Cole said. “He has been going really consistently this season and I have been very happy with him.
“We were pretty confident going into the race, it was obviously just the draw that was a bit of a concern. I thought if he ran up to his last run when he raced against Aim Smart I thought he would give him a good shot.”
Cole said Ohceedee has pulled up well since Saturday’s win and will likely have a run at Ruakaka on September 15 before returning to Hastings for the final day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival next month.
“He’s just bouncing. He was bucking and kicking on the walker this morning and he is feeling very well. He hasn’t left any feed, so I’m very happy with him.
“He’ll probably have to go to a rating 82 1400m at Ruakaka in a couple of weeks and then go down to the last day at Hastings in a rating 82 mile.
“At the moment he is right down the bottom of the 82 ratings so he’s probably not going to be able to make the Hastings field without another run, so that’s our only real option with him beforehand.”
A $75,000 purchase by Cole out of Cambridge Stud’s 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft, Ohceedee is raced by Cole in partnership with his father David.
“We were really drawn to him as a yearling,” Cole said. “He was quite a precocious type and I really liked Power as a first season sire.”