Ocean Park's High Emocean in a Class of Her Own in Ansett Classic

Mark Smith - Sunday September 27

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare High Emocean was in her class of her own in Sunday’s Listed RM Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington.

A walk in the park for High Emocean (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jye McNeil, the 4yo daughter of Ocean Park never at any stage gave her supporters concern, putting four and a half lengths on the runner-up Tavirun (Tavistock) with Eureka Street (Street Cry) a neck back in third.

David Eustace said they might now up their sights for the mare.

That was fantastic, she is amazing this filly, so very, very brave, Eustice told Racing.com.

“It was the plan to come here for some valuable black-type and hopefully we can improve on that because she is a genuine stayer.

“The Sandown Cup would have to be considered with those staying races over the carnival at Flemington. I think there is a 2,800 benchmark 90 or 96, which would be good for the owners.

“We know she stays and doesn’t need to be over-racing or to be over-trained at home. It’s about spacing her runs, she would probably have one run in to Sandown.   

Good girl (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)

High Emocean finished third on a heavy 10 at Moonee Valley on August 22 at her most recent start, which snapped a three-start winning streak.

Advertisement

“She tied very hard in that ground and she is not very big so it took a fair bit out of her. She had twelve days in the paddock and she will do the same, Eustice added.  

Purchased by John Foote Bloodstock / Darren Weir Racing for $80,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, High Emocean advances her record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 2 from 11 starts with earnings of $217,885.

A half-sister to Listed stakes winner Elate (Savabeel), High Emocean is the third winner from as many to race out of the unraced High Chaparral (IRE) mare High Joy whose Group 1-paced dam Endless Joy (Centaine) who is a half-sister to the 9-time Group 1 winning champion Bonecrusher.

An Iffraaj (GB) half-brother to High Emocean was purchased by Bourbon Lane Stable LLC / Mr D Foster / Mr SB Marsh for $250,000 at this year’s Karaka Yearling Sale.

High Joy has a yearling filly by Iffraaj (GB) and was covered by Savabeel last spring.

High Emocean becomes the tenth stakes-winner for Waikato Stud's Ocean Park. As we have stated many times in the past 12 months, no stallion did more to advance his cause last season than the Cox Plate winning son of Thorn Park..

Advertisment

Race Result - R.M. Ansett Classic LR 2415m

Mornington Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:32.94
1
High Emocean
- 4m Ocean Park (NZ) x High Joy (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
2
4.5
Tavirun
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Alleyrun (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M Zahra 59
3
4.8
Eureka Street
- 7g Street Cry (IRE) x Rathsallagh (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J Warren & D Krongold Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
4
6.0
Naval Warfare
- 7g Born To Sea (IRE) x Three Days In May (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 59.5
5
8.3
Converging
- 6m Strada (AUS) x Valse Des Fleurs (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Fred W Kersley 56
6
11.3
Magazine
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Vogue (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 56
7
12.8
More Than Ever
- 6g More Than Ready (USA) x Danalaga (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: L Currie 56
8
16.3
Our Big Mike
- 8g Don Eduardo (NZ) x Landvetter (NZ) (Felix The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Brett Scott Rdr: M J Walker 61
9
17.5
Harrison
- 8g Sixties Icon (GB) x Excellent Day (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Amy & Ash Yargi Rdr: M J Dee 60
10
32.5
Naivasha
- 6m Starcraft (NZ) x Durban (AUS) (Helenus (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 56
More Reading...
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 7
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Interest at JRHA Sale Next Week – First foal of Golden Slipper Winner
The 2025 JRHA  Select Foal and Yearling Sale will be held next week in Japan on July 14 and 15 and as usual there are some interesting entries for Aussie racing fans with a significant number of our star mares at stud in Japan including the 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Begg Bred Siblings Make for a Winning Double
Former Group I jockey and now emerging country trainer Danny Beasley produced his first winning double at Wagga on Monday and he did it with a pair of first time winning siblings that are both bred and raced by the legendary Neville Begg.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Te Akau Stars Headed to Cranbourne
Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose.
Public Attention Sold to Hong Kong
New Zealand-bred three-year-old Public Attention will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.
Karaka Graduate High Emocean Back to Best at Flemington
Almost two years after her most recent win, quality staying mare High Emocean returned to the peak of her powers with a dominant victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 The Sally Chirnside (2500m) at Flemington.