Racing: Stablemates ready for Hannon Memorial

Ohoka Dallas. Photo / NZPA

Ohoka Dallas and Highview Tommy, well performed pacers in the stable of Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, are set to resume racing in the Hannon Memorial free-for-all at Oamaru on Sunday.

Ohoka Dallas, starting from 50m, beat Highview Tommy, off 30m, by a neck in a workout at Motukarara on Saturday. The 2600m was run in 3:27.4.

Ohoka Dallas, who was put aside with a tendon strain, has not raced since he won over 3200m in 3:57.3 at Addington last November. He was prepared for the Interdominion in March but had to be put aside when filing reappeared in his leg.

"He has been swimming and is going really well this time in," Payne said.

Ohoka Dallas finished second in track record time to Cullen's Creek fresh up in the Hannon last year.

Highview Tommy has not raced since he won the Interdominion Consolation at Alexandra Park in April. He also won the Invercargill Cup last season.

Monkey King, Raglan, Second Wind and Mach Banner are others starting afresh in the Hannon, with
2009 winner Bondy also an entry.

Second Wind, who has not raced for 11 months, finished second fresh up in the Methven Cup but performed poorly in two further starts. He won nine races, including the Taylor Mile, Ashburton Cup and Green Mile from 16 starts the previous season.

Second Wind finished a neck second to Monkey King in a 2400m trial at Methven on Saturday. Monkey King, who has not raced for four months, ran the 2400m in 3:16.7, the last 800m in 58.4 after starting from 20m. Second Wind was off 10m.

Power Of Tara, a fresh-up winner at Addington on Friday night, has also been nominated for Oamaru.