Former Hong Kong Galloper Wins Bundamba Plate New

Date: 24-Jun-2024

Oughton continued his hot run of form since returning from Hong Kong with a win in the Bundamba Plate over 1350m.

The Melissa Kelly-trained son of More Than Ready started the $3.30 favourite and enjoyed a lovely run just behind the leader The Face.

He looked to be travelling beautifully until he hit the straight and got pocketed on the fence, but a cool head from jockey Justin Stanley saw him eventually check off heels with 150m to go and let down strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.

Stanley, who lives by the motto ‘have saddle, will travel’, appreciates being given the opportunity to team up with another talented horse during the Queensland Racing Carnival.

“Melissa has him going enormous,” Stanley said.

“First-up he went to the front in Brisbane, but Melissa said he was really big that day and to just treat it as a trial.

“He won well at Warwick and then took a big step up at Eagle Farm the other day where he probably threw the race away when he got to the front and just wanted to duck in a bit.

“Today (Saturday) he got out late and still wanted to get in and do a bit wrong, but he’s got a lot of ability and they’re going to have a lot of fun with him.

“He’s very tough and obviously has a lot of ability having been sold to Hong Kong and winning a few over there.

“Not a lot come back from there and win races like he has.”

Kelly deserves kudos for having the gelding racing in such great form given it has taken a lot of care to nurse him through a tendon injury that he came back from Hong Kong with.

Oughton is off to the paddock for a well-deserved break and will be brought back with an eye on Summer Carnival riches.

By Craig Sheppard

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