3 minute read
With an eye for a bargain and a knack with discards, young Armidale ace Stirling Osland is primed to build on a bonanza with dual winner Leica Model on a booming Newcastle race day on Saturday.
Leica Model was sold for just $8000 as an eight-race maiden by the strong Victorian training team of Busuttin and Young and Stirling admirably won successive races for undeniable prospects into a $120,00 Class 3, 1600m TAB Highway.
Stirling elaborates on his value purchase and afterthought by him and jockey Ashley Morgan as they agreed to take on higher grade after a powerful win at Moree following an Armidale maiden.
She's returned near $28,000, with doubtless more to come at only four years and 11 starts.
Some bargain already this mare.
"I bought her online, what stood out is they'd run her in a strong Flemington three-year-old 1800m so she had to have shown them decent ability," Stirling explains as Leica Model on Saturday is appealingly at $14 on the 54kg limit again for Morgan.
"She also placed three times in Sale maidens where there's usually decent depth.
"Usually good form for NSW regionals anyway, especially as she's only four. She's lightly raced and bred well enough."
Leica Model is by Darci Brahma (NZ).
"She came here sound, in good order and Ash and I discussed this Highway at 1600m after her big win at Moree,'' he said.
"We were going to wait but he said she won with a bit against her and has form at a mile. And when I looked at the form, I've seen tougher Highways.
"Not saying they're ever easy but this is a winnable race with the form she's in. No weight, inside draw and form at the distance."
Joining Stirling Osland in May, Leica Model was unplaced first-up but then improved spectacularly to win an Armidale maiden 1100m, and 1300m at Moree.
"Might not have beat much but she'd won with 55kg and 58kg, trained on, mares generally hold form, so we thought have a crack while she's eligible,'' he said.
"And she had no favours at Moree. I didn't think she'd get so far back at 1300m off an 1100m win racing handy.
"But she was worse than midfield and still got over the top of them.
"If she runs well on Saturday and we think she can, we'll be back in town in a couple of weeks for another one of these."
Of course if they stay at the regionals a lot more weight for a lot less prizemoney.
And some of the strongest form is drawn wide, including promising Rematch (16) at $3.20 early favourite with Nash Rawiller. Leica Model at $14 will firm.
Captain Underpantz will have admirers and is a likely tightener off a Sunshine Coast win in stronger grade.
