Ocean Beyond (NZ) (Ocean Park) may not be the friend of the punter, but what he is he’s a consistent money spinner for his connections.
The Simon Ryan-trained galloper will try to collect his biggest prize on Saturday when he runs in the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) and attempt to build on his A$535,475 bankroll.
Now an eight-year-old, Ocean Beyond has been winless since May 2022 when successful in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.
After originally starting out with Daniel Bowman at Warrnambool, which included a win on Ballarat Cup Day in 2021, Ocean Beyond then had a stint with Andrew Bobbin before transferring into Ryan’s care last year.
Ocean Beyond has gone winless in 24 starts for Ryan but has picked up more than A$135,000 in prize money from finishing in the placings six times while finishing fourth on a further four occasions.
“When he came to my stable, he was on the verge of retirement,” Ryan said.
“He hadn’t done much for a while and as he’s got a bit older, he appears to be getting out in distance and has probably reinvented himself a little bit.
“When you’ve only got a small stable at Warrnambool, there is some frustration (that he hasn’t won) but it’s nice to have a galloper in the stable that runs good races, in good races, all the time.
“I know he’s probably not a punter’s favourite, but if you put your business hat on, he’s winning plenty of money for his owners and covering his costs.
“We’re hoping one day that lightning strikes, and he gets away with a good race.”
Ocean Beyond is on the quick back-up having chased home Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) and Rumbled Again (Night Of Thunder) in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield last Saturday, collecting A$18,000 for connections.
“The best runs he’s had from me have been when he’s been on the quick back-up,” Ryan said.
“I’m confident he can run, at least, as well as he did last Saturday, and hopefully better.
“The 2000 (metres) is probably as far as he wants it, but I think he’ll run a strong 2000 coming off the 1800 (metres) last Saturday.”
Ryan said swimming, trips to the local pony club along with trotting and cantering at the Warrnambool racecourse will have Ocean Beyond in peak condition for Saturday.
“He’s a horse that is easy to train,” Ryan said.
“He always eats well, he’s very sound, enjoys his work, but he’s got a racing pattern that’s not conducive to winning a lot of races.
“He likes to get back and find the line late, but I think he’ll present in as good as order as he did last Saturday.
“It’s as probably as good a race that he’s been in, but his form suggests he warrants a shot.”
By Waikato Stud’s proven sire Ocean Park out of the four-win Pins mare Frankly, Daniel Bowman went to $60,000 to purchase the gelding after he was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale where he was presented by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud.