Australian syndicator OTI Racing have added a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender to their New Zealand racing arsenal after securing promising filly Twisted Love last week.
Trained by Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow, the daughter of Vanbrugh scored impressively on debut at her home track late last month, which attracted the attention of several potential buyers.
“We had quite a few people interested in her and OTI was able to put something together,” Thurlow said.
Twisted Love was initially purchased out of Seaton Park’s 2023 Book 2 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $17,000 by Thurlow’s daughters Emma and Jamie, and Thurlow was pleased to see them rewarded for their investment.
“They are happy with that, and it helps to pay a few bills,” he said.
With a $1 million carrot dangling in front of them in the form of the New Zealand Oaks, OTI Racing have elected to keep Twisted Love in Thurlow’s care for the immediate future.
“She will be in our care for a little while. We are not too sure how far she goes this campaign, so we will just wait and see,” Thurlow said.
“The Oaks is the plan at this stage, but there is still plenty of water to go under the bridge before that happens.
“There is good money there now, so it is a great incentive to try and leave them here as long as they can.”
OTI Racing’s silks are set to feature prominently in New Zealand over the next month, particularly on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8 where they will carried by Golden Century and Skippers Canyon in the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), while the Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist will cross the Tasman to take her place in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) for slot holders RACE Inc.
While they have parted ways with Twisted Love, Emma and Jamie Thurlow still have a number of other young stock to look forward to, including fellow three-year-old filly Miss Fireball, who will attempt to break through for her maiden win at her second attempt in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden 3YO 1200 at Wanganui on Friday.
“Emma has got a share in Miss Fireball who runs on Friday at Wanganui, and we bought one (yearling) out of the Sydney sale, which they will probably take a share in,” Thurlow said.
“Miss Fireball has been working well and I am happy with her. Hopefully she runs a nice race for them.”
Meanwhile, Thurlow has been pleased with the progress of Field Of Gold and Whangaehu following their runs in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, with their next targets being at opposite ends of the country.
“Both of them have come through their races really well,” he said.
“Field Of Gold may venture south for the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Whangaehu will probably go to the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m), he has just been weighted out of the handicaps.
“It is unfortunate, we were really keen to have a go at the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) but he has just been weighted out of it now. That’s the pill you have to swallow, and we will probably keep to weight-for-age with him and if it all goes well, we may look at the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) with him where he will probably get less weight."
By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
