King enjoying strong start with Mid Ocean

[Wandering Eyes]

Benji King guided Mid Ocean (NZ) (Ocean Park) through every stage of her young life and the exciting filly has kicked off her racing career with a flourish, aiming to add another win to her record in Saturday’s Ancroft Developments (1400m).

The diminutive daughter of Ocean Park won on debut at Taupo in late December, kicking clear of subsequent winner Cypher (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and then stepping up against the older horses in Rating 65 grade, she held her own finishing third behind Pax Mundi.

While King had faith in her ability, he was pleasantly surprised with her first two appearances on raceday.

“She had certainly shown enough but you can never be fully confident at their first start,” he said.

“From our point of view, she had done everything right so far and trialled up nicely, so we were expecting a good run, but probably didn’t expect her win the way she did.

“In her second start, there were five wins between the first two horses, so it gives you some confidence going forward. It’s not easy at the second start either, but she’d improved a lot and has since then.

“She’s matured up both physically and mentally which is always a good sign. She’s pretty exciting.”

On Saturday, Mid Ocean will carry the colours of her co-owner Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford, who afforded King with an opportunity early in his training career, which resulted in Mid Ocean.

“There’s a long-term relationship there from my parents running the stud farm at Brighthill,” King said. “All of her (Henrietta) mares are there and their foals are raised with Dad (Nick King).

“When I started training, Henrietta was very kind in offering me a pick of some out of the paddock and Mid Ocean was always one that caught my eye. I was keen to have a go with her.

“I was there when she foaled, which was quite late, that’s why I remember it so well. She always had athletic attributes, although she was very small, and she’s got a bit of character and personality as well. I broke her in and she did all of her early preparation at the stud, so it’s been awesome to watch her develop, particularly physically.

“It does make things rewarding, you spend a lot of time and effort over the winter months getting them going as younger horses and she did have her moments, but that was probably her telling me that she needed more time.

“Looking at her now, she’s really turning into a little racehorse.”

The MAAT contest at Matamata is a fair distance shorter than the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), which King has put in a nomination for. While it is not completely out of the question, he suspects Mid Ocean will be looking for targets around the 1400-1600m range.

“Any three-year-old filly that is showing a bit, you want to be prepared, but I’m not sure she would quite stay the trip,” he said. “But every time we’ve asked something of her, she’s stepped up and done it.

“While I think she’s more of a sprinter-miler, crazier things have happened.”

The Duchess’ well-recognised colours will feature later in the card at Matamata in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) aboard Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto), a four-win mare prepared by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos at Hastings. 

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