3 minute read

Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan spoke of raceday experience playing a key role in the win of stable runner Paddy Bourke at Hastings.

He was also referring to his apprentice Timothy Johnson who produced a copybook ride to guide the three-year-old gelding to victory.

Victory in the Dunstan Feeds Autumn Sprint Series Qualifier (1200m) made it back to back wins for the three-year-old Patapan gelding while for Johnson it was his sixth career success in just his second full season of riding.

Oulaghan was full of praise for his apprentice who rode perfectly to instructions to get the win.

“It was a lovely ride by Tim as we talked about the fact there would be plenty of pace in the race and his best chance was just to let the horse settle back and get into a good rhythm,” he explained.

“He did that beautifully and brought him into the race at the right time where he could finish off over the top for a nice win.

“Tim has been with me since he left school and he has now starting to show the benefits of the experience he has gained over the past couple of seasons.”

Oulaghan has always felt Paddy Bourke would develop into a good performer despite some wayward tendencies that marked his early runs.

“He was very green and has taken a while to really put it all together,” he said.

“He has got better and better as he has had more time in work while he learned plenty form his first couple of runs. I’ve always thought that once he put it all together mentally he would make the grade as he has shown enough to suggest there is some good potential there.”

Oulaghan will now look for a suitable race for his charge before tackling the Sprint Series final at Trentham on the 28th of May.