Osipenko stakes Guineas claim

[Wandering Eyes]

Smart three-year-old Osipenko ($8) put his hand up as an autumn force when he scooted through along the inside to win the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by a short half-head over Zou Tiger ($7) with Matcha Latte ($21) another short neck away third.

Odds-on favourite Aft Cabin endured a torrid run, dwelling slightly at the start then having to work his way around the field to sit outside the leader and the effort told with the colt tiring to finish fifth.

While Aft Cabin had excuses, Osipenko was impressive and the New Zealand bred son of Pierro looks sure to excel over further.

Group One placed in the Caulfield Guineas last spring, he had no luck when fifth to Aft Cabin in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up but there were no issues for jockey Nash Rawiller on Saturday.

“Nash (Rawiller) made amends today and gave him an absolute peach,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.

“He began much better from the barriers, put himself in the perfect position in the run and made it very difficult for the short-priced favourite who had to work hard.

“Nash just bided his time up the straight and said ‘yahoo Sally’ at the 200 and off we went.”

Duckworth said the stable wasn’t surprised to see Osipenko run so well and expected him to be even better suited over 1600m at his next start, which would be in either the Randwick or Australian Guineas in two weeks.

“Bring on the mile. I’m confident he will stay beyond that as well, but the ultimate goal is the Guineas next start,” Duckworth said.

Rawiller was grateful for the opportunity to make amends on Osipenko, giving the three-year-old an ideal run in transit on Saturday.

“I’ve got to say I was shattered after his first-up run,” Rawiller said.

“To only finish three-and-a half lengths off them I thought was very credible and thankfully the owners have stuck solid and given me another chance. It just worked out perfectly for him today, he’s a horse with good ability.”

Bred by Kevin Hickman, Osipenko was purchased out of Valachi Downs’ 2021 Book 1 draft at Karaka by Guy Mulcaster on behalf of Chris Waller Racing and the Kaha Syndicate for $160,000.

The syndicate was put together specifically to target Classic types at Karaka and Osipenko now shapes as a leading prospect for the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) for which he is a $6 chance.

His dam Raskova, a stakes performed daughter of Henrythenavigator, is from the family of champion sires Shamardal and Street Cry.

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