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.