Ocean Billy is the third Gr1 winner for Ocean Park proving the strongest stayer in Saturday’s Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.
Ocean Billy settled worse than midfield as In A Twinkling and Bluey’s Chance set a solid pace in front, Ocean Billy began to creep closer before the home turn where he sprinted clear around the home turn.
Race favourite Sound and Charles Road tried hard but Ocean Billy stayed on strongly to score comfortably.
Winner of the Gr3 Waikato Cup in December, Ocean Billy is now the winner of seven of his 20 races and is the third Gr1 winner for Ocean Park (Thorn Park), New Zealand HOTY in 2012-13.
Ocean Park was advertised at $20,000 at Waikato Stud in 2020.
Ocean Billy’s dam Cool Storm (One Cool Cat) won the Listed Newmarket Handicap over 1200m at Ellerslie as well as finishing runner-up in the Gr2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
The granddam Flying Free (Heroicity) was also trained by Bill Pomare to win nine races including the L.R. Rotorua Stakes.