Oregon Hiker and Great Fortune completed a double for My Admiration at Belmont on Saturday and they’re both on a hat-trick for the Westbury Park stallion.
Oregon Hiker (Photo / Western Racepix) went out a short-priced favourite for the Westspeed Platinum (1000m) and was never headed under apprentice Luke Campbell. It following a similar front-running victory at Belmont on September 4.
“He wasn’t the best away but I was positive and sent him forward,” Campbell said. “He mustered and relaxed and was in control. I let him get balanced in the straight and then he extended to finish off really well.”
Oregon Hiker (5g My Admiration – Wahkeena by Husson Lightning) is a homebred for Tameeka Brown and her partner Brett Pope prepares him at Pinjarra.
They also won a Pinjarra maiden with his older half-brother The Coolakin King (Demerit) who is now on the country circuit with Ray Malpass.
Great Fortune free-wheeled in front for Willie Pike and was never in danger of losing the 7Plus App Hcp (1600m). The grey gelding went out a well-backed even-money favourite to score by four lengths with a leg in the air.
“His last-start win from a wide gate at Bunbury was huge,” trainer David Harrison declared. “He’s a bit one-paced so when Willie let him slide at the 600m I didn’t know what to think. But Willie knew what he was doing and I will be guided by him on whether to keep this bloke at a mile or get out further.”
That was his third start for Harrison following stints with Brock Lewthwaite and Brian Kersley. He is raced by managing part-owner Kirsty Wardle and her parents Alan and Birgett MacAlister were among the shareholders when Westbury Park’s Phil Ibbotson imported My Admiration to WA.
Great Fortune (6g My Admiration – Fortunate Lassie by Blackfriars) is from a full-sister to LR Pinjarra Cup winner Simply Adorable (Blackfriars). Their dam is now owned by Lightning Bloodstock’s Chris Rosier and he has retained her 2yo colt by Spiritjim (Fr) and her yearling colt by Jimmy Choux (NZ).
Fellow Westbury Park stallion A Lot (USA) sired Odinaka to win at Belmont on September 14 and his summer carnival candidate Sir Dreamalot worked home nicely when narrowly beaten first-up at Belmont on Saturday.
Sir Dreamalot had won the LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m) at Ascot in March for trainer Josh Krispyn. “Carrying 59.5kg on Saturday was a bit of a worry,” he said. “I was pretty happy with his trials and he pulled up well which is pleasing going forward.”
My Admiration (Encosta de Lago) stands at Westbury Park for $4,400 alongside A Lot (Tapit) at $11,000. Both fees (inc GST). Contact Phil Ibbotson for bookings or further information on (08) 9534 1215 or 0429 341 211.
