Duchess Rapt With Mid Ocean Win

Media Release - Tuesday December 31

Matamata horseman Benji King has a lifelong association with Henrietta, Dowager Duchess of Bedford, and he was delighted to train his first winner for her at Taupo on Monday.

The Dowager Duchess has been a long-time family friend of the King family and continues to breed from her mares at Benji’s father, Nick King’s, Brighthill Farm in the Waikato.

Mid Ocean winning at Taupo on Monday.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

One of those mares was the late Inertia, a half-sister to multiple Group One winner and former Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock.

Benji King was there when she foaled an Ocean Park chestnut filly three years ago, and he was immediately taken by the filly, who was subsequently named Mid Ocean and was entrusted to his care.

She won her first trial over 850m at Waipa in October before finishing runner-up in an 800m trial at Pukekohe earlier this month, giving King plenty of confidence heading into her debut in the Two Mile Bay Sailing Club (1200m) at Taupo on Monday.

From her inside barrier, Mid Ocean was able to find early cover three back on the fence for jockey Courtney Barnes. Turning for home, Barnes was able to find a gap between runners, and Mid Ocean was able to power through to find the lead and hold on to record a half length victory over the fast-finishing Cypher.

The Dowager Duchess was trackside for the win and was rapt with the result.

“It is just wonderful,” she said. “Her mother is a half-sister to Tavistock. It is a family we have had since ‘75.

“Benji loved her as a foal, so I told him he could train her. It is so great to have Benji train her, I have known him since before he could walk.”

Advertisement

It was King’s second training victory, and he said it was a sentimental one given the family history.

“I was there when she foaled and we have had her the whole way through,” King said.

“She is my first three-year-old winner and my second ever winner, so it’s pretty exciting.”

King was hopeful of a bold showing given the filly’s trial performances and was pleased she was able to bring that form to raceday.

“We did have high hopes,” he said. “But a first starter as a three-year-old you are always a bit unsure, but that was pretty pleasing.”

King is now excited for what the future holds for the regally-bred filly.

“I would like to hope that she will get over a bit of a trip and then she could become quite valuable with some nice races ahead,” he said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Ocean Park

Ocean Park in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Two Mile Bay Sailing Club Mdn 1200m

Taupo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:13.36
1
Mid OCean
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x Inertia (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: B H King Rdr: C R Barnes 55.5
2
0.5
Cypher
- 3f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Sleek Secret (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
3
0.9
Subiaco
- 3g Impending (AUS) x Prudence Perfecto (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: S C Spratt 57.5
4
2.7
Latenight Galaxy
- 3g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Latenight Princess (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C K Ormsby Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57.5
5
2.8
Ivy's Dancer
- 3f Contributer (IRE) x Ivy's Court (NZ) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: M Hashizume 55.5
6
3.1
Early Bird
- 3f Ferrando (NZ) x Nakano (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: Tayla Mitchell 54.5
7
3.6
Wild Thyme
- 3f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Erbe (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R Mckenzie & J Bassett Rdr: L H Satherley 55.5
8
5.1
Say You Love Me
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Lady Tatia (AUS) (Duke Of Marmalade (IRE))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 55.5
9
18.7
New Venture
- 3g Ferrando (NZ) x Our Little Rippa (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: B D Rogerson 55.5
More Reading...
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Coolmore Favs get the Flemington Straight Experience in Jump Outs
Beiwacht, Beadman and Skyhook, three of the top four in the market for next month’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes had a jump out down the Flemington straight on Friday with Beadman quite the eye-catcher.