Wolfe rejuvenates Red Ora

Red Ora scored a home-town win for his large syndicate of owners in the $100,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint (1300m) at Mount Barker on Sunday.

Bred by Mungrup Stud owner Gray Williamson, the rejuvenated sprinter charged home to make amends for a close-up third in the Great Southern’s premier short-course event last year.

Red Ora (Due Sasso) led in a Mungrup quinella from Dream Lifter (Danehill Express) – the runner-up had split Rebel King and Red Ora in 2017.

Williamson raised Red Ora before syndicating him among former school-mates Damien Cooper, Michael O’Brien, Michael Henriks, Mark Abercromby and Peter Price.  There’s no mistaking the Aquinas College old-boys who are always colour co-ordinated in red jackets.

The owners transferred him to Steve Wolfe late last year following a winless run stretching back to the LR Scenic Blast Stakes in January 2016.  “I’ve only had him 7 weeks but he’s a happier horse here than in Perth,” Wolfe said.  “I was confident he would go close after winning a trial at Albany a fortnight ago.”

Red Ora has earned $536,600 and will attempt to win another Scenic Blast Stakes at Ascot next month before a third crack at the Bunbury Stakes on March 21.

He’s the final foal of Friartriar (Blackfriars) and Williamson has kept a link with the family through his older sister Trisasso who was covered by I’m All The Talk in October.

Mount Barker’s annual Grapes & Gallops meeting highlighted a winning week for Mungrup Stud following a treble at Ascot on Wednesday with Tango Ora (Oratorio), Press The Petal (Danehill Express) and Capricorn Dancer (Hala Bek).

A brother to Tango Ora (Lot 8) is the first of 28 yearlings to parade for Mungrup Stud at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions starting on February 19.

RED ORA
Jan Williamson (second from left), Ann Croucher and Gray Williamson celebrate another successful Mungrup Stud Sprint
Photo: Laurie Benson