Racing: Oulaghan shines in winter

Cody Singer guides Brushman to a comfortable win in the $50k Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham. Photo / NZPA

Mark Oulaghan has a magical touch with winter racehorses - particularly jumpers - as was evident with Brushman's powerful finishing burst to win the $50,000 Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham yesterday.

The Awapuni-based trainer has a wonderful strike rate in jumps racing and produced Brushman in faultless physical condition to outstay the opposition to win the 5500m feature.

The 7-year-old gelding settled well back in the field and timed his finishing burst to perfection, gunning down Logan James in the final 100m to win by three lengths.

A further six lengths away in third position was All Redy.

Brushman has been a consistent performer for Oulaghan scoring two wins and five minor placings from 12 starts.

This victory capped a consistent run of minor placings, further underlining Oulaghan's ability to peak the 7-year-old for a feature winter jumping event.

SOLID STEAL left no excuses for the opposition in the $50,000 Wellington Hurdles, powering out to an effortless five length victory in the hands of Johnathan Riddell.

Hastings trainer Paul Nelson had the 10-year-old primed for a bold performance in the feature hurdle event.

Solid Steal was an easy winner in his course debut here two starts ago and was far from disgraced last-start when finishing midfield in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles.

Back on the roomier Trentham circuit, Solid Steal, was striding out powerfully throughout and Riddell had little difficulty securing another feature race win.

STRAPPED FOR CASH clearly excels in heavy winter track conditions - particularly at Trentham - and this was evident registering back-to-back victories in the $35,000 Parliamentary Handicap.

Despite being forced to carry the topweight of 59kg, Strapped For Cash showed plenty of stamina and guts when it mattered, grounding out a one length victory over Herman Munster.

A further 5 lengths away in third position was Man O'Mann.

Te Aroha trainer David Smyth clearly knows how to peak his stablestar for this feature winter flat event - Strapped For Cash was dominant winning this event last year.

LOCAL TRAINERS Kenny and Lisa Rae produced the consistent Upsala to post an easy victory in the $45,000 Northland Breeders Stakes.

The colt son of Oratorio scored by 1 lengths over Cool Storm with a further three-quarters of a length back to Mygoodgrace (third).

Upsala has been a solid performer for the Raes scoring two wins and three minor placings from eight starts.

DASHING DONNA showed a sharp turn of speed when it mattered scoring a three length victory in the hands of Opie Bosson in the feature sprint event.

The 5-year-old daughter of Don Eduardo overpowered Classic Kanga and Kool Kid, continuing an impressive strike rate for local trainers Donna and Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs.