Our Hail Mary, 13th SW for Ocean Park

Media Release - Saturday January 16

Well-related and talented staying mare Our Hail Mary scored a strong win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Trentham Stakes that counted for much more than its $70,000 stake.

Our Hail Mary (9) adds black type to her record with a win in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Previously placed at Listed level as a three-year-old, the lightly raced mare took the next step and claimed big black type for the first time in her 13-start career.

“I think she’s cemented herself as a future broodmare now,” trainer and part-owner Allan Sharrock said.

“She’s by Ocean Park out of a sister to Shez Sinsational (the Ekraar mare Repenting), so she’s got the pedigree behind her and the family is really firing at the moment.”

Back-to-back victories in lead-up races earned $4.20 favouritism for Our Hail Mary on Saturday, despite being disadvantaged under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Trentham Stakes. Multiple stakes performers Camino Rocoso, Hunta Pence, Dolcetto and Fiscal Fantasy all carried either 56kg or 55kg, only slightly more than Our Hail Mary’s 53kg.

The five-year-old also had to overcome a less-than-ideal trip, never given the chance to settle into a smooth rhythm as defending champion Camino Rocoso threw down the gauntlet and opened up a 20-length lead down the back straight.

But Our Hail Mary answered every question that was asked of her, and when jockey Danielle Johnson called on her to quicken in the straight, she responded.

The Taranaki mare surged to the front with 150m to run, and when Fiscal Fantasy came at her with a big late challenge, she summoned even more to hold on by a long neck.

“I’m proud of the mare, it wasn’t easy for her today,” Sharrock said. “There was a lot of pressure on all the way and she had to work hard, but to her credit, she really kept on giving.”

Advertisement

Johnson was similarly impressed with her mount’s tenacity.

“There was never really any let-up in the run, so she was never able to get on the bit and start travelling,” she said.

“She had to work all the way, so it was a very good win. She’s got a nice future as a stayer, especially in some of those Cup races next season where she’ll be a lot better off at the weights than she was today.”

Our Hail Mary is now the winner of six of her 13 starts, with the prospect of much more still to come.

“Over ground, I believe she’ll get to the top level,” Sharrock said.

“But I’m not going to ask too much of her this time. I’ve got things like the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) in mind for next season. There are a couple of fillies and mares’ races coming up over the next few months, those could be nice options for her.”

Those include the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) on April 9 and the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) on May 1.

Fiscal Fantasy’s second placing was a welcome return to form for the three-time Group Three winner, who tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie last start. She finished a long neck ahead of Riverton raider Dr Velocious, who ran a bold race for third at big odds. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Ocean Park

Ocean Park in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Dixon & Dunlop Trentham Stakes Gr3 2100m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 2:11.86
1
Our Hail Mary
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Repenting (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: D S Johnson 53
2
0.4
Fiscal Fantasy
- 6m Skilled (AUS) x Villa Igea (AUS) (Papal Power (USA))
Tnr: F T Ritchie Rdr: L G Innes 55.5
3
0.8
Dr Velocious
- 5g Haradasun (AUS) x Nevak (NZ) (Rhythm (USA))
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: K Asano 55
4
2.1
One Of The Best
- 8g Monolith (AUS) x Trimai Best (NZ) (Hadaad (USA))
Tnr: Ms J Millar Rdr: S M Mc Kay 55
5
2.5
Mohaka
- 5m Nadeem (AUS) x Diplomacy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: G Lowry & G Cullen Rdr: L J Allpress 53.5
6
5.0
Camino Rocoso
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Our Centasea (AUS) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: C W Johnson 56
7
7.0
Hunta Pence
- 8g No Excuse Needed (GB) x Vanitas (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: F P Campbell Rdr: D G Bradley 56
8
8.3
Pep Torque
- 7g Nadeem (AUS) x Cosmic Flight (NZ) (Star Way (GB))
Tnr: Ms K Lawrence Rdr: K R Hercock 55
9
9.1
Dolcetto
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Our Shiraz (NZ) (Nediym (IRE))
Tnr: Ms S Kay Rdr: L T Hemi 55
More Reading...
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.