The perfect day for racing at the
Hills course brought another huge crowd of over 34,000 racing fans to
Oakbank and many were already taking their places for the Hurdle which
was the first race on the program. Mateo led early with Cross
Constance from Resetable and Wai Not out wider. As they turned out
of the back straight after the first 3 jumps Mateo and Cross Constance
were in front from Zuhayr then Wai Not followed by Resetable. Over
the second in the home straight and Cross Constance was a clear leader
from Zuhayr then Mateo followed by Wai Not and resetable followed by
Prior, Compelled with King of the Cross having only his third start over
the jumps and second this preparation at the back of the field.
Over the next and King of the Cross showing his inexperience took off
far too early and fell (both horse and rider were fine with King of the
Cross planned to be heading home for the May carnival) while Cross
Constance went to a clear lead from Zuhayr clear of Mateo then Wai Not
and Compelled. Along the back and over the second of the
treble Zuhayr took over in front from Cross Constance then Resetable
making ground from Wai Not out wider as the field bunched in the run to
the home turn. Around the turn Zuhayr seemed to handle the
downhill flat run the best kicking clear of Resetable and Cross
Constance with Wai Not starting to put in a run out wider. It was
a two horse war to the last where Zuhayr didn't put in the best leap but
once he landed had too in reserve coming away to win from Wai Not with
Cross Constance fighting back for third ahead of Prior then Resetable.
Zuhayr was having his third start over jumps and was coming off a close
second to Set You Free at Warrnambool in a hurdle last weekend.
The second race of the day was the 3600m flat race which is two complete
laps of the Oakbank track where Gossip Guru proved too good coming right
away to win from Fate with Wizza's Magic third. Gossip Guru is by
Reset from Glory Guru and has had 35 starts for 6 wins and 6 placings.
Prince Albert was just too strong to edge out Zataglio in the third race
with Desdane in third. Prince Albert has now won 3 races from 15
starts and 5 placings. The stunning Ace of Joka stormed down
the centre of the track to take out the Sidewood Estate Hcp from Youbolt
with Hinchley Wood and Marco Polo deadheating for third. Ace of
Joka has now won 17 races from 77 starts with 18 placings.
The Onkaparinga Cup saw Go Dreaming lead from Exalted Moment in the
early stages and a lap later they were still in the fight but Go
Dreaming proved too strong coming away to win from Exalted Moment with
Prince of Capers third. Go Dreaming took his earnings to over
$100,000 with the win taking his record to 29 starts for 4 wins and 12
placings.
The Von Doussa Steeplechase drew the spectators from everywhere with
race patrons lining every vantage point along the inside and outside
rails even up at the second last fence everyone was packed in along the
fenceline. It was clearly the race that everyone had been waiting
to see and it did not disappoint with Nishiazabu taking the early lead
from Riviera Star then Thubiaan outside Kiwi Supercharged followed by
Lord of the Song and Seeking the Silver. After the fallen log the
field started to strong out with Nishiazabu a clear leader from Thubiaan
and Riviera Star with a break to Kiwi Supercharged followed by Lord of
the Song and Jervois. As they completed the first lap it was
Nishiazabu leading from Thubiaan then Riviera Star followed by Lord of
the Song and Kiwi Supercharged. At the third jump before heading
up to the fallen log Thubiaan Moved to take over from Nishiazabu as Lord
of the Song mistimed the jump losing momentum with Riviera Star moving
to a clear third as Jervois made ground. Down the hill to the
second last and Thubiaan made his dash for home from Nishiazabu who
seemed to be momentarily unbalance on the flat ground on that turn with
Lord of the Song and Jervois making their runs out wider from Kiwi
Supercharged. As the field all cleared the last fence Thubiaan was
well clear under hands and heels riding from Lord of the Song giving
chase then Riviera Star from Nishiazabu. Thubiaan came right away
in the home straight to make it 13 Von Doussa Steeplchases for trainer
Eric Musgrove with Lord of the Song second and Jervois third while
Nishiazabu fought on well to hold 4th ahead of Riviera Star as the
entire field completed the course in a fantastic display of jumps
racing.
Thubiaan started his race career in England in late 2010 where he showed
some staying promise but after 1 win and several places found himself
sent to Australia. Making his local debut in July 2012 he won over
1600m and then over 1800m at Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury but made the
step up to metropolitan class a few starts later where he won over 2500m
at the Kensington track at Randwick and then won over 2800m at
Canterbury. At his second campaign in Australia in the first
part of 2013 Thubiaan was placed at Moonee Valley and Flemington before
winning a race at the latter track over 2800m. He was then placed
in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes before another placing in the Stayers Cup
at Randwick. In the spring of 2013 Thubiaan's form dropped with
his best run a placing at Moonee Valley and he was soon transferred from
Chris Waller to the stables of Eric Musgrove for a jumping career.
Debuting over hurdles in 2014 he was placed at Warrnambool before
winning at Sandown. After an unplaced run a let up followed before
being placed on the flat at Morphettville before winning a Hurdle at the
same track. A fourth in the JJ Houlahan Hurdle was next then
second in a Hurdle at Sandown and winning at Warrnambool. In 2015
after several flat runs he was placed in a Hurdle at Oakbank before
trialling over the hedges and making his debut in steeplechases in the
Von Doussa.
The next races was the Listed Oakbank Stakes which was taken out by
Streetcar Isabelle having only her 6th start in a race. Trained by
David Jolly she takes her record to 6 Starts for 4 wins and a placing.
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Early in the day and the crowd is already lined up as far as the eye can
see on the rails |
Race patrons getting into spots before race 1 |
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Race 1 - Young Members Hurdle |
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Race 2 - Golding Wines Hcp |
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Race 3 Big Screen Video Hcp |
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Race 4 - Sidewood Estate Hcp |
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Race 5 - The Advertiser
Onkaparinga Cup |
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Race 6 - Thomas Foods
International Von Doussa Steeplechase |
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Race 7 - Ubet Oakbank Stakes |
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