Oak Earns Shot At Banjo Paterson Final
- Saturday, 19 June 2010 12:40
Oak Heart earned a shot at the Banjo Paterson Series Final for stayers at Flemington next month when he outstayed his rivals in the Betfair Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.
Ballarat trainer Darren Weir said the El Moxie entire, now a rising six-year-old, was the best of 20 horses given to him to prepare by owner-trainer and breeder Greg Mance when he gave training away due health problems.
Mance is best known as the owner-trainer of 1989 Caulfield Cup and Toorak Handicap winner Cole Diesel.
"Greg is a great owner. He has put a lot into the game," Weir said.
"He said to me 'only ring me when they are racing or when you are getting rid of them'."
Weir said Oak Heart, who won a Saturday race at Flemington over 2000m three starts back in May, would be eased up after the $150,000 Banjo Paterson (2500m) at Flemington on July 10.
"I might bring him back in the late spring for races like the Bendigo Cup and the Ballarat Cup," Weir said.
"He ran sixth in the Moonee Valley Cup last spring and he's going a lot better now."
Ridden by Steven King, Oak Heart ($4.20 eq fav) settled well back second last of the 10 runners but revelled in the heavy (10) going to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Only He Knows ($5) with Rowland ($4.20 eq fav) the same margin away third.
"He got further back than I wanted him to but he seems to get through it (the heavy) alright," King said.
Picture: Colin Bull
