A Tasmanian Cups campaign could be on the agenda for the Mick Kent-trained Oforawesome after he kicks off his preparation at Sandown on Saturday.
The Colombia four-year-old resumes in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1300m), a rating 0-72 event, with Brad Rawiller the rider.
Kent is looking to take the promising stayer to Tasmania for the Group Three Hobart and Launceston Cups in February.
Oforawesome, raced by OTI Racing managed by Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell, hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to Shootoff in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The gelding was bought out of New Zealand after he’d had three runs for a Taupo maiden win over 1300m in August 2010.
Oforawesome has won two of eight since arriving in Australia including a first-up win in a Ballarat rating 0-62 Hcp (1400m) in February.
After 1600m placings at Moonee Valley and Sandown he scored over 1800m at Sandown on a heavy track in May, beating recent Caulfield winner Power O’Raylee.
On his way to Queensland for the Derby, in which he was beaten five lengths, he ran seventh to Irish Love over 1800m at Rosehill on June 4.
Kent said Oforawesome and 2010 Ballarat Cup winner My Bentley were among his Tassie Cups prospects.
The $225,000 Hobart Cup (2200m) is run on February 13 while the $225,000 Launceston Cup (2400m) is run on February 29.
Oforawesome is at $9 with TAB Sportsbet which has the Darren Weir-trained Tigress Joy as $5 favourite ahead of last-start Caulfield winner Any Dream Will Do at $5.50 and Halo Miss Maher at $7.
Rawiller, who resumed riding at Seymour on Thursday after suffering concussion when bucked off in a race at Ballarat on Sunday, has six mounts at Sandown including the in-form Spirit Song ($3.20 fav) in the TMB Printing Hcp (1800m).
Despite that setback Rawiller has had a good December, riding 12 winners including Grand Nirvana in the Group Three AJ Scahill Stakes at Ascot and a double at Flemington last Saturday.
Spirit Song, previously with Stuart Gower in Adelaide and then John McArdle at Mornington, is unbeaten since joining the stables of Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell.
The Invincible Spirit mare won first-up for Purcell in a Ballarat Fillies and Mares 0-68 Hcp (1400m) on November 20.
Then, with Rawiller aboard for the first time, the four-year-old scored by 3-3/4 lengths in a Moonee Valley Mares 0-68 Hcp (1600m) on December 9.
“She’s been going great. I’ve only had her for two starts and she won really well both times, especially at the Valley by nearly four lengths,” Purcell said.
“She pulled up well and I’m looking forward to her running well again.”
The mare is living up to her earlier promise when as a three-year-old she won at her third start at Morphettville over 1400m before finishing third to Becerra in the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) in August-September last year.
AAP TURF
