News

Crowd raises Octavia

9th Feb 2013

Racing Victoria - by Ben Asgari - Saturday, 9 February 2013

Octavia breaks through for her first stakes victory in front of a vocal crowd

You could have been forgiven for thinking the finish of the $120,000 Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) was a Group 1 feature such was the enormous roar as Octavia held off a gallant Member’s Joy.

With the weight of the Melbourne Racing Club members encouraging on the ever-closing runner-up and a massive group of vocal owners cheering on Octavia, it created an atmosphere that wouldn’t have been out of place during the height of the Spring.

A daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, winning trainer Mike Moroney revealed that many of Octavia’s owners have got quite a sharp return on their investment.

“I actually owned 80% of her until about six weeks ago and then we had an open day and I’ve ended up with absolutely nothing left in her and she’s won a stakes race. But it’s great and that’s what we do it for,” Moroney said.

“We had her ready to go and she had a little bone chip in her joint which cost her racing at two.

“We aimed her here today to try and catch a few of the other horses on the way up which has worked out really well.”

Beginning quickly from barrier 3, Kerrin McEvoy elected to settle Octavia ($8.50) in second position behind the early leader Meliora ($13) before angling off her back and into the clear as they entered the home straight.

After finally getting the better of Angelic Light ($8) who clearly headed Octavia after sprinting through on her inside, she then had to dig deep to hold off the late challenge of Member’s Joy ($8.50).

In a race completely dominated by those on the speed, Angelic Light hung on well to finish third a further half a length away with a gap to Meliora.

Well-backed favourite Darlington Abbey ($6-$4) endured a wide run throughout before knocking up to finish last, with the other fancied runner Sumakaray ($4.20) just ahead of her in eighth.

The victory was the fourth in seven starts for Octavia, taking her career earnings to over $150,000.

Click here to view the full list of results for today’s Kevin Hayes Stakes or the rest of Caulfield’s Orr Stakes program