Ocean Challenger wins the Trojan Hand Tool Stakes at Moonee Valley
Ocean Challenger has won the final race on Moonee Valley’s Cox Plate Day in the Group 3 Trojan Hand Tool Stakes today.
The rank outsider proved she was a step ahead of the other eight runners when she won the $150,000 race ahead of place-getters Hi Belle and Lady Lynette.
Ocean Challenger turned her luck around in today’s race after failing to finish better than fourth in his four previous spring starts.
Priot to today’s win, the luckless six-year-old had not won a race since July last year.
Trainer Darren Magro was over the moon to have a winner on Cox Plate Day.
“Massive thrill,” Magro said.
“I thought she could win, simple.
“We’ve sort of had no luck with her (in the past).”
Jockey Dean Holland shared Magro’s excitement after the race.
“(It’s a) massive thrill to have a ride on the day and to ride a winner”
“(I’m) very happy.”
Ocean Challenger has now won eight of his 33 career starts and gas win more than $370,000 in prize money.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | OCEAN CHALLENGER(5) | Dean Holland | Darren Magro | 53.0 | 1-38.73 |
| 2nd | 6 | HI BELLE(2) | Corey Brown | John Gunning | 53.0 | 0.4L |
| 3rd | 1 | LADY LYNETTE(6) | Dwayne Dunn | David & Scott Brunton | 58.0 | 0.6L |
| 4th | 5 | RASPBERRIES(1) | Kerrin McEvoy | Peter Snowden | 55.0 | 2.9L |
| 5th | 8 | OUR ELLA BELLE(8) | Steven King | S. Ramsay & J. Ritchie | 53.5 | 3.4L |
| 6th | 3 | MORE STRAWBERRIES(3) | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse | 56.0 | 4.9L |
| 7th | 11 | APENNINE(9) | Clare Lindop | Mark Jackson | 53.0 | 5.2L |
| 8th | 4 | LITTLE SURFER GIRL(4) | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller | 55.0 | 9.2L |
| 9th | 13 | EAU DE DALI(7) | Michael Walker | Shaun Dwyer | 53.0 | 13.7L |
| Src | 2 | AVIENUS | Brad Rawiller | Mark Webb | ||
| Src | 9 | SO PRISTINE | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | ||
| Src | 10 | SOPHIE’S SPIRIT | Ben Melham | Max Hinton | ||
| Src | 12 | NERIANI | Craig Williams | John Sadler |
