Punter’s say Ohoka has a mortgage on NZ Derby
Tony Herlihy and Ohoka Punter look to have a mortgage on the $150,000 Group I New Zealand Derby at Addington tonight and their total dominance of the 3-year-old pacing category will have their 11 driving rivals reaching for the paracetamol this week.
As short as $1.50 with TAB bookmakers last night, Ohoka Punter may start even shorter on the final tote, thanks to his recent form.
The Bettor’s Delight colt is shooting for his third Derby of the season after winning the Northern Derby at Alexandra Park early last month and the Victorian Derby at the beginning of February.
He’s dominated his age group and has only been beaten on three occasions in his 13 start career.
The most recent of those came in Australia when he was beaten in a heat of the Victorian Derby after having to overcome an awkward draw.
A victory tonight would be a fitting victory for Ohoka Punter’s owner Katie Carville, who has invested a lot of time and money into the harness racing industry over many years of involvement along with her late husband Dave.
The pair have been prominent sponsors and owners for over a decade and have enjoyed great success with a number of their horses. The colts carry the Ohoka moniker, while the fillies are dubbed Millwood.
Following Dave’s sudden death in September 2010, Carville cut back on the number of horses they had racing, preferring to focus on the quality stock they had on offer.
From day one Herlihy has been adamant that they were onto a good one with Ohoka Punter and hasn’t held back in his assessment of the free going pacer’s potential.
A leg injury as a 2-year-old has been the only problem thus far, which meant most of the juvenile riches were missed with a strong promise from Herlihy that some patience would be worth the wait.
“Tony said he thought this one was special and he promised me that if we turned him out then he would win a derby for me,” Carville said after the Northern Derby victory.
Herlihy has been meticulous in his handling of Ohoka Punter and an effortless victory in the Flying Stakes two weeks ago was the perfect final hit-out for the colt before tonight’s assignment.
His barrier draw of eight will raise some concern, but Herlihy’s 3000-plus driving wins would suggest he is more than capable of ensuring a bad barrier draw isn’t the reason he will be beaten.
So who has the best chances of lowering the colours of Ohoka Punter?
From a good draw the Mark Purdon-trained and driven Border Control looks set to go closest.
His form has been solid and a strong second behind the favourite in the Flying Stakes points toward another strong showing tonight.
Purdon has had direct involve- ment as either a trainer of driver of 10 winners of the Derby, the most prolific of records in the 99-year history of the 3-year-old feature.
Meanwhile, tonight will likely be the last New Zealand start for Cambridge 3-year-old colt Mista Mara.
The colt tackles the Derby, with Cambridge trainer Dave Kaa expecting a bold performance.
Kaa said yesterday that he was “pretty sure” the sale to leading Perth trainer Greg Bond would go through post-race.
“He has been vetted and had all his special tests done for export so it seems likely that he will be sold,” Kaa said.
Mista Mara has not drawn that well – seven on the front line – but giving Kaa hope is the fact Ohoka Punter drew even wider on the front line.
“We did need to draw better but given that Ohoka Punter will have to go back from the draw, it will open the race up a bit,” Kaa said.