TUESDAY: October 25, 2022: HAWKESBURY trainers Tommy Wong and Steve O’Halloran shared the spotlight at their home track today.
Each won a race, boosting the number of winners they have trained between them so far this season to six.
Wong won his third race when Fast Sagrado ($2.50) landed the XXXX Gold Midway Class 1 Handicap (1500m), and O’Halloran also his third, courtesy of Oceans One ($6) breaking through in the St Johns Park Bowling Club Provincial Maiden Handicap (1100m).
Apprentice Zac Lloyd, who later clinched a double on Huon in the Irresistible Pools & Spas CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m), partnered Fast Sagrado in his defeat of Gigantic ($3.60) and $2.40 favorite Dreamdeel.
Twice Hawkesbury premiership winner Rachel King had the mount on homebred Oceans One, who defeated Cassimir ($5.50) and first starter Counter Move ($4.40) in a race run as a heavy storm hit the track, and the horses were barely visible.
A $200,000 yearling purchase at the Gold Coast in 2020, Fast Sagrado began his career with brothers Ben and JD Hayes in Victoria, and never finished further back than fourth in his first six starts, winning a Warracknabeal Maiden (1205m) in July last year as a $2 favorite second time out.
He was put on the online market 12 months ago, listed as a “Grade 4 roarer” (wind infirmity) after finishing third in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1218m) at Kyneton on October 12 last year.
“We bought Fast Sagrado for $15,000, and spent more money getting him operated on,” Wong said this evening.
“As a result, he didn’t race for us until Anzac Day at Bathurst when he ran fourth with a decent weight (58.5kg).
“He was placed at three of his four subsequent runs, and it was good to see him win his first race for his new owners today.
“The operation appears to have been a success as you can’t hear him making a noise any more when he gallops.”
Wong’s three winners this season have all been ridden by the talented young jockey Zac Lloyd, who earlier scored twice on Speedy Song (Wyong on August 28 and Hawkesbury on September 8) for him.
Lloyd also rode Steve O’Halloran’s first winner – Martini Crusader at Newcastle on August 6 – since setting up shop at Hawkesbury last year, but it was Rachel King he turned to today for Oceans One.
“Rachel and myself know each other well,” O’Halloran said. “We rode a lot of gallops together when we were both working for Gai Waterhouse.
“Rachel rode Oceans One and won a Wyong trial on him in September last year, but I have never have been able to get her to ride in a race for me until today. “She is a young lady with her head firmly screwed on, and is a wonderful rider.
“I put winkers on Oceans One today because he got bumped around a bit last start at Newcastle when the winner raced erratically in the straight to try to get his confidence back.
“I asked Rachel to keep him on the bit and hang on to him for as long as she could, and she gave him a great ride.”
O’Halloran was thrilled to win for the Super One four-year-old’s owner Camille Alexander, who was unable to get to the track.
“Camille bred Oceans One and rang me and asked if I would train him when I moved to Hawkesbury last year to train,” he said.
“It was nice to repay the faith she showed in me.”
. Whilst Lloyd rode a double at the meeting, his day ended on the wrong side of stewards.
Lloyd pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge on runner-up Newley Wed ($2.40 favorite) in the Lander Toyota Class 1 Handicap (1300m), and was suspended.
His term on the outer begins on November 4 and he may resume riding on November 10.