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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.
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.
