Consistent mare Ocean Challenger will return to Moonee Valley to convince trainer Darren Magro she deserves a crack at next month’s Group Two Queen Of The South Stakes in Adelaide.
Magro said that for the first time in her career the five-year-old was showing she was ready for 1600 metres and is hopeful to get confirmation in Saturday’s Epworth Doctors and Staff Appreciation Handicap (1523m).
“She been beaten twice (at 1600m) so there is a question mark with her at the distance but her last run was the first time she has shown us she might be looking for a mile,” Magro said.
Ocean Challenger was a three-year-old at the end of her second campaign when she raced three wide and finished ninth in the 2009 Adelaide Guineas, while at her only other 1600m attempt she was a fading five-length third at Caulfield 11 months ago.
The winner of seven of her 25 starts including twice over 1400 metres, Ocean Challenger was a fast-finishing second when beaten in a photo-finish in the Zobel Finance Handicap (1400m) at Morphettville on March 12.
“She hit the line well and I’m really happy with her,” Magro said.
“She’s back in form and looks super.”
Until this campaign Magro had trained Ocean Challenger at Cranbourne but he now has stables at Gawler which he hopes to sell so he can return to Victoria.
Ocean Challenger has raced twice at Moonee Valley for a second and a third.
The Queen Of the South Stakes (1600m) is at Morphettville on April 16 and Ocean Challenger only needs to run up to her Flemington fifth to Palacio De Cristal in the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) last October to be a threat.
Magro said the daughter of Rubiton was at her best on firm ground and that because of the wet tracks in the spring she didn’t race again after the Blazer.
She has improved at each of her three runs this campaign and Magro believes that the extra 123m on Saturday will be a good bridging race to 1600m for her.
“To win a Group race she really needs to get a mile,” Magro said.
“Over 1400 metres those good mares are probably two or three lengths better than her but jockeys who have ridden her say she has a Group win in her if she can get 1600 metres.
“Speed I think is the key because the last time she ran over 1600 metres they walked and she got pulling in front.”
Normally ridden off the pace, Ocean Challenger has a strong finish and Darren Gauci who rides her on Saturday knows her better than most.
From four rides on the mare he has posted two 1400-metre wins at Caulfield, a third and a fourth.
“At the Valley they generally roll along which will suit her on Saturday and she has drawn well (six) to get a nice run,” Magro said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
AAP TURF
