Ones to Watch – UK

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 13

OTI Racing colours were carried to victory overnight in the UK by a couple of lightly raced impressive three year-old winners and given the likelihood so many of their horses ultimately come and race in Australia we decided to take a closer look.

A half-brother to stakes-winner Harbour Views that has won over $500,000 in Australia for OTI, three year-old colt Docklands was a short priced favourite at Ascot for a mile handicap race and bolted in to win by six and a half lengths.

Advertisement

He’s now had two wins and two seconds from four starts for trainer Harry Eustace.

He was purchased for just 16,000 pounds from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and is from the first crop of young Teofilo stallion Massaat.

He is the fifth winner from unraced Mark of Esteem mare  Icky Woo, whose best offspring is US Group III winner Ickymasho in addition to Flemington stakes-winner Harbour Views.

OTI colours were in the frame on the earlier winner Banderas, a Lope de Vega colt that also started favourite at Chester and scored a strong maiden win at his fourth start after two minor placings this year.

“Banderas is a nice stayer for the future. He has a great temperament and a nice pedigree. There's a lot to like about him. He wants cut in the ground. We wouldn't run him on good to firm,” said his trainer Michael Bell.

Banderas was bought for 95,000 guineas from Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale from Ballylinch Stud, who retain a share in the ownership.

He is the second winner from stakes-winner Glamorous Approach, a three-quarter sister by New Approach to dual Group I winner Poetic Flare.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday January 23
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Knight's Realm wins G3 Taranaki Cup
Elen Nicholas has ridden the highs and lows of racing with Knights Realm, and Saturday proved to be the pinnacle of their journey.
Karaka 2026 makes favourable impression on William Haggas
The milestone 100th edition of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale has caught attention throughout the thoroughbred world, including one of the United Kingdom’s leading trainers.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 24
Here is the full list of 99 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Anemacore Strikes in Listed Sunshine Coast Cup
Letham Stud stallion Unusual Suspect was credited with his second stakes winner when Anemacore lived up to his long-held potential and pre-race favouritism with victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Coastline BMW Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).
Kinnaird Looking to Extend Te Akau Dominance
The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition.
Well Written Wins 3YO Karaka Million for Yulong by Daylight
For those looking for a succinct summary of the result in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, the answer was very simple – Well Written first, daylight second.
Sandpaper Gives Baker and Rawiller First Carrington Stakes
With neither trainer Bjorn Baker or jockey Nash Rawiller having previously won the Listed ATC Carrington Stakes (1400m) in the past, both added the race to their records as Darby Racing’s Snitzel gelding Sandpaper showed plenty of determination, leading throughout to record his third black type victory.
Successive Lots for $675,000 and $600,000
Bloodstock agent Kevin ‘Millie’ Walls was a key player on back-to-back big lots at Karaka on Sunday, securing a colt for $675,000 before being underbidder on a $600,000 colt that was the very next yearling through the ring.
First NH G1 Winner Ghaiyyath – Opera Ballo Wins Jebel Hatta
2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (IRE) got his first Group I winner in Australia last spring in Victoria Derby hero Observer and had his second overnight when Opera Ballo took the G1 Jebel Hatta (1m1f), while the other G1 on the card at Meydan also had a winner of serious interest for a different reason.