O’Jessica tipped an exciting summer ahead with a dominant win in the Breen Construction & Superior (1220m) at Cromwell on Friday.
The Andrew Carston-trained daughter of Deep Field was back in her element on the smaller and firmer Central Otago track, having struggled in her last two starts at Riccarton.
“Her form at Riccarton has always been only average,” Carston explained. “I thought she deserved her chances to run there over Cup Week but yesterday she showed that she’s a better horse around the corners on a smaller and also firmer track.
“It was a pretty dominant win in the end and I wouldn’t say I was surprised as she was consistent last preparation and she’s just taken a while this time in to get fit and the tracks haven’t been right for her but now she’s found form again I think she’ll provide some good fun over Christmas and New Year.
O’Jessica was ridden by Rohan Mudhoo, the pair jumped cleanly taking the early lead and travelled keenly. She hit the straight looking every bit the winner and raced away untroubled to win by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths.
The six-year-old mare now has three wins and ten placings from 26 starts to her credit.
She is raced by an ownership group that includes her former trainer Stephen McKee as well as successful businessman Barry Rissetto.
“Stephen and Barry are the original owners and then I got a syndicate together that race half of her,” Carston said.
“They’re a good bunch of guys and they’re having a bit of fun too so it was a good result.”
Carston said that provided the weather stayed good overnight O’Jessica would back up for day two of the Cromwell meeting on Sunday.
“All four that ran on Friday will back up at this stage and I have two more coming down,” he said.
Hunter Villian and last start second placegetter Seven Twenty are the two joining the team for Sunday running in the Dunedin City Motors 65 (1400m) and Property Brokers Dunedin 75 (1400m), respectively.
“I think Seven Twenty is the best of them,” he said. “She’s pretty handy and she ran a great second during Cup Week last start.”
Carston is hoping for better performances from Poverty Bay in the Crombie Lockwood 65 (1400m) and Taumalolo in the Iver Terrace Lifestyle 65 (2030m) after both failed to fire on day one, while Bad Flamingo who ran an encouraging third on the first day could provide an emotional win in the Be My Guest Design Maiden (2030m).
“Sadly, Bad Flamingo’s owner Nigel Babbage passed away last weekend, so it’s been an extremely tough week for everyone who knew him. I’d love to get him over the line for his family and he ran well on Friday, so fingers crossed.”
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