Super Sunday for Stewart at Oamaru

[Wandering Eyes]

Leonard Stewart had been looking forward to Sunday’s Oamaru meeting with a big team of representatives, and he got the results he was after, collecting a winning double and a number of other placings.

His run of success began in the opener where Koyama started a narrow second-favourite behind Proserve in the Mariner Suites Oamaru (2200m). In the hands of Yogesh Atchamah, the son of Almanzor settled into a good rhythm in the trail of Vino Valentino, who was cruising into the straight and looked the one to beat.

Atchamah had started his run early on Koyama and swiftly caught the leader, who couldn’t match him as he powered clear to score by two lengths to a late-closing Proserve.

Stewart was delighted to get a third win for the season with Koyama, who hasn’t been the easiest to manage since his arrival in the stable in February last year.

“He’d had a couple of rough runs where he’d been interfered with, but he got a nice clear run and he came through,” Stewart said. “He can be a bit ignorant this horse and Yogesh gets along with him well.

“When we got him, he was quite a handful, and we thank the barrier staff for their work with him as well.”

The four-year-old had been a $1,001 purchase through Gavelhouse after beginning his career in the North Island, and Stewart’s other victor, Satin Doll, was sourced for $1,432 on the online platform.

A mare by Dissident, Satin Doll had shown promise with placings in the north and was on debut for the Stewart barn when she lined up in the Oamaru Scaffolding (1200m). Starting at a quote of $20, Satin Doll far exceeded market expectations when she burst through the middle of the pack to salute ahead of her stablemate, Tranquil Eyes.

“She’s been with us for three months and we’ve had a nice build-up, we’ve just been cautious of putting her out on a really testing track and flatten her first-up,” Stewart said.

“She’s a very compact little horse and we are still learning about her, so with Gosen’s (Jogoo, jockey) experience, he could encounter any problems and work it out in the race. I think he got a bit of a surprise when he asked her to go, and she reacted so well.

“She’d been working well and showed potential, so it was great to see her do that.”

Jogoo, who is also in the ownership of Koyama, piloted Queen Of Kings into second placing in the Hart Memorial (1400m), and Lise Paree into the same position in a competitive Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate Trophy (1200m), her first attempt in open company.

“It wasn’t one of those strong fields with a higher rating horse at the top, so we thought she (Lise Paree) could present herself well,” Stewart said. “She just goes out there and does her best.

“Gosen does the right thing with her, she’s still developing and strengthening up and he lets her do her own thing early. When she is ready to go, he doesn’t overdo it, and she responds really well.

“I think she’ll be a lovely horse in the spring, she’s just running on ability at the moment.”

Based just up State Highway One at Washdyke, Stewart was able to appreciate the condition of the Oamaru track, despite the constant influx of rain through the winter period.

“Oamaru have got a great committee and they’ve done plenty of work with the track,” he said. “They’ve put a big drain in along the bend out of the straight, and over by the hill, which I think has made a big difference.

“There is a lot of drainage down the back straight and it held up very well.”

He was equally as complimentary of his team of staff, which includes his granddaughter Lacy Stewart, who is involved with all facets of the business.

“It was a great day,” he said.

“My granddaughter Lacy does a great job, she does a lot of the work on Gavelhouse, she reads a horse very well, and we’ve got different owners from around the area, who were all thrilled.

“Anybody handling stock through this wet winter deserve a mention, and we’ve all had to go through it. Lacy, as well as Gosen, Nicole and Brodie, have worked very hard and it’s great to get these results.”

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