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Chrissy Bambry collected an winning double with her talented stayers at Trentham on Sunday, headlined by Opawa Jack in the Taylors Property Plus 2100.
The son of War Decree jumped positively under Kate Hercock and found a handy position early in the trail of Sailor Jack, while race-favourite Manifique settled at the back. The speed was only leisurely as they streamed down the back straight and turning for home, Opawa Jack and Sailor Jack put the pressure on and left the rest of the field chasing.
The pair fought it out all the way down the long Trentham straight with Manifique the sole runner to make up ground, and although she got impressively close, Opawa Jack held on to score by a half-neck, with Sailor Jack only a half-head back in third.
Bambry was thrilled with her gelding, but admitted she wasn't expecting the win to come leading into Sunday's meeting.
"I wasn't that confident to be fair, I told his owners in Christchurch not to fly up because I didn't think he was a winning chance, so they've proved me wrong," she said.
"We'll just take it race-by-race with him, but there are some nice summer cups for him."
Bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton of White Robe Lodge, Opawa Jack was purchased for $40,000 out of their draft at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales and has gone on to earn $138,500 with seven wins from 28 starts for Bambry and the remainder of his ownership group.
Bambry was back in the winner's circle in quick succession at Trentham, winning the following race with progressive stayer Phats.
The Embellish gelding performed solidly through his last preparation, earning a late three-year-old campaign across the ditch, where he finished third in a pair of lucrative age-group staying contests in Victoria.
After returning to his homeland, Phats put together three solid performances over a mile before stepping up to his favoured middle-distance range in the Hardy Trade Supply 2100, where he started a deserved $3.70 favourite.
In the hands of flying hoop Masa Hashizume, the gelding settled off the fence in midfield and cruised along behind a solid tempo. One of his main dangers, Mr Twinkletoes, stormed to the lead at the top of the straight and set a task for Phats, but in the final strides, he powered over the top to take the victory by a long neck.
The race was one of six automatic qualifying races for the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) to be run back at the course during Wellington Cup Week, a place Bambry intends to accept with her promising galloper.
"He's in the Remutaka now with the golden ticket, so he'll probably go to the Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m) two weeks before," she said.
A homebred galloper, Phats is owned by Bambry alongside her parents Tony and Judith, and Luca and Simon Luoni. The success was his second in 18 starts, surpassing $100,000 in stakes