Ocean Billy (NZ) Delivers Auckland Cup Fairytale

Four years after being passed in at Karaka with a $20,000 reserve, Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park) has given Rotorua owner-trainer-breeder Bill Pomare the result he has dreamed about throughout his racing life. 

Ocean Billy triumphed in Saturday’s $500,000 Group One Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. It was the seventh win of his 20-start career, and it lifted his career earnings to $448,175 – more than 22 times his reserve at Karaka four years ago.

“For me, a Maori boy who came out of nowhere, who slept under bridges and in cars, to suddenly have an Auckland Cup winner is incredible,” Pomare said. “This is the dream race to win.

“My family is here, while old Pete Ludgate, his part-owner who is 90-odd, is back in Rotorua, so I’m just hoping his heart handles it.

“To think that this horse has come out of a sprinting mare is amazing. I have to mention Justine Sclater. We both bred him, and it was her vision to go to Ocean Park – I couldn’t afford it.

“I also owe my wife Suzi, who rides him every day. She has been riding since she can walk and just loves horses to pieces.

“Everyone around this horse just loves him. He is the kindest horse you could get. He kept doing damage to himself leading into his races, but he is an absolute beauty.

“Johnathan (Parkes, jockey) rode him perfectly and has given us such a thrill.”

After settling in the back half of the field through the early part of the race, Parkes began to creep forward on Ocean Billy with 800 metres remaining.

He swooped to the front at the turn and opened up a big lead at the top of the straight, and he ran the gruelling 3200-metre distance out strongly to easily maintain that advantage. Ocean Billy never let the chasers get anywhere near him, crossing the finish line two and a quarter lengths clear.

“Bill presented the horse very, very well,” Parkes said. “The horse looked outstanding when I went to mount up on him.

“Bill instilled plenty of confidence in me, and the horse has put in a terrific staying effort.

“I had to use him up a little to put him the race, but he’s that sort of horse who likes to keep rolling, so I wasn’t too concerned.”

The Auckland Cup produced a Karaka quinella, with Charles Road (Myboycharlie) filling the runner-up position. Bought for $90,000 from the 2015 Premier Sale, he has proven himself on both sides of the Tasman, lining up in 50 races for six wins, 13 placings and $1.17 million in stakes.

Vendor	Kirkwall Thoroughbreds
Purchaser	-
Breeding	Ocean Park – Cool Storm
Sale	Lot 623, 2017 Premier Sale, Psd (Res $20,000)
Bred by	Kirkwall Thoroughbreds Ltd & W K Pomare