Progressive stablemates Overdraft and Oscar have flourished in the care of Jo Rathbone and they put that on display with winning performances at Woodville on Wednesday.
Dannevirke Dairy Supplies Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (2100m) contender Overdraft had trialled once before joining the Wanganui horsewoman, and after three seconds, the son of Burgundy broke through for his maiden success in a highweight at Waverley.
Rathbone had been wary of the step into Rating 65 grade, but punters had confidence in her charge, closing him among the favourites for the Cup in a market headed by Rum Night ($3.70). In the hands of Jonathan Riddell, Overdraft settled three-wide in the second half of the field in deteriorating conditions.
The gelding began slowly making ground along the back straight and was right in contention on the home turn, showing his staying qualities to defeat ex-Hong Kong galloper Gallant Hero by a long head.
“I wasn’t surprised by him winning yesterday, he’s very honest and he gives everything really,” Rathbone said. “He’s always felt like a nice horse, but he’s been quite casual in his work, and now he’s becoming a lot more professional.
“He’d had a trial before I got him, but he had some soundness issues. He had come to me as a bit of a last chance and to do something a little bit different, and he’s just one that has continued to impress me more and more with the more he’s done.
“The wet track didn’t worry him at all, he’s gone on all surfaces and gone well.”
Bred by Charlotte Myers, Overdraft was passed in as a yearling when presented at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, and was retained to race by his breeder and other family members.
“He is Kirk and Charlotte Myers’ horse, Kirk is my partner Simon (Harrison)’s uncle,” Rathbone said.
The gelding has plenty of pedigree on his page, being a half-brother to multiple Group One-winning juvenile Yourdeel.
Earlier in the meeting, Rathbone got plenty of satisfaction out of Oscar’s deserved maiden success in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m).
Ridden by Jonathan’s daughter Amber Riddell, a three-kilogram claiming apprentice, Oscar showed his usual speed out of the barriers and found the lead, where he would remain all the way to the winning post holding off Good Craic by a length.
The Mulaazem four-year-old had placed in his five previous starts, benefitting from a variety in his training by the former jumps jockey (Rathbone).
“She (Riddell) rated him well in front and he found the line quite well, I wondered if he would run out of puff but he kept going,” Rathbone said. “He seems to be trying a lot harder lately with the more racing he’s done.
“It’s always rewarding when you can see them running consistently good races and trying, and winning comes as an extra reward.” Oscar was bred and now raced by Gordon Lambert, whose colours have been seen aboard the likes of Group One-winning filly Mi Jubilee.