Racing: Cup win for Who Shot Thebarman

Marton and Whangaehu's O'Leary brothers celebrate their win.

Mark Oulaghan got Who Shot Thebarman the fittest horse in New Zealand and Matt Cameron is New Zealand's most dedicated jockey.

They were the two immediate conclusions to draw from last night's $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup.

Who Shot Thebarman won the 3200m staying test in a fighting finish with Sydney-based Celtic Prince after winning jockey Matt Cameron put it to the opposition by scooting clear on the home bend.

It was a bold move.

"I'd noticed that recent Auckland Cup winners had led in the home straight so I asked him to go. I knew being one of Mark Oulaghan's horses he'd stick it out."

Cameron was white when he returned and that was no surprise. He copped a serious kick just above the knee at last Tuesday's Matamata barrier trials and even when he discovered there was no broken bones he was still unsure he could ride through the Auckland Cup/Derby carnival.

Then, when that hurdle was cleared, he had to concern himself with Who Shot Thebarman's light weight of 52.5kg.

The saddle Cameron had to use was about the size of the average punter's wallet.

The surprise for many was that Who Shot Thebarman, $2.50 at tote close, was able to pull hard in running and stick the race out in a tight finish.

Mark Oulaghan is best known as a jumping trainer, but in reality there is no such thing. Training a stamina-based horse is the same, jumps or not.

"Certainly, this is the best flat race I've won," said the Awapuni horseman, whose speciality has been winning the Grand Nationals at Christchurch.

There might be a better prize ahead.

Who Shot Thebarman is entered for the upcoming Sydney Cup and all indications are he will travel across the Tasman.

"He's got 52kg in that race at the moment, but I don't know what sort of re-handicap he's likely to get for winning this race," said Oulaghan.

Part-owner Shaune O'Leary said his family were not that impressed by Who Shot Thebarman as a weanling.

"He was a scrubby little bugger and no one was keen on him, but then he grew into quite a nice 2-year-old and they all wanted to be in him."

Celtic Chief more than justified the decision of Bjorn Baker to come from Sydney when he picked up $87,500 for second and nearly won the race.

More Than Sacred did a great job coming from well back in running to take third ahead of topweight Travolta and southerner Black Stockings.

White Robe Lodge stud manager Wayne Stewart always thought the best was yet to come with the progeny of Yamanin Vital - and he could be right.

The siring son of Sir Tristram died of a bowel blockage in October 2009, but he made his mark on the track yet again with Who Shot Thebarman's win.

The North Taieri stud sold the gelding as a yearling to trainer Mark Oulaghan and his owners.

' Who Shot Thebarman joins Cluden Creek (2004 Wellington Cup), Cut The Cake (2003 New Zealand Derby) and Herculian Prince (2010 Sydney Metropolitan) as group one winners for Yamanin Vital. Additional reporting, Matt Smith