Written by Paul Vettise
A former star galloper for Gary Hennessy is now playing a major role in the launch of the Matamata horseman’s new stallion Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
He purchased, part-owned and trained Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), who won five Group 1 races, including the Cox Plate, and was a New Zealand Horse of the Year before his sale and retirement to Waikato Stud.
Hennessy invested some of the Ocean Park proceeds into Weowna Park, where Ocean Emperor will take up residency for the 2019 breeding season. The well-related and performed stallion will stand at NZ$7000 + GST.
Ocean Emperor (NZ)
“Weowna Park’s a 50-acre property and we bought it from our share of selling Ocean Park and his stake winnings,” Hennessy said.
“Weowna Park’s a 50-acre property and we bought it from our share of selling Ocean Park and his stake winnings.” – Gary Hennessy.
“We had Ocean Emperor as a yearling when Ocean Park was winding down. Ocean Park is out of a Zabeel mare and this fellow is by Zabeel so we bought mares with him in mind long term, broodmares that have been successful with Zabeel.”
Hennessy purchased Ocean Emperor out of Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$450,000 with Andrew Wong and Stephen Yan, the same trio having raced Ocean Park.
“Ocean Emperor’s such a lovely horse and I’ve probably been more attached to him than Ocean Park because of the number of years we’ve had him around the stable,” he said.
Ocean Emperor was a $450,000 yearling
The 7-year-old won nine races, including the G2 Japan-NZ International Trophy and consecutive editions of the G2 Tauranga S. He also finished a creditable seventh in last year’s Kranji Mile in Singapore.
Brave finale
In his farewell performance he ran a gallant fourth in the G1 Captain Cook S. at Trentham last December.
“He only got beaten a nose and a head for second over a mile,” Hennessy said. “He was four wide down the back and had to go forward and sit outside the leader. It fell over 500 metres out and he was left in front, it’s not ideal with the long straight at Trentham.
“He’s a beautifully bred horse and had a massive amount of ability. He’s very much in the mould of his sire Zabeel, if not better looking.”
Gary Hennessy describes Ocean Emperor as being in the mould of his sire Zabeel (pictured)
Ocean Emperor is a son of the G3 Mannerism S. winner and Group 1 performer Tootsie (NZ) (Pins), whose three foals to race have all been successful.
Tootsie is a sister to the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Legless Veuve with the dual Group 1 winner Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Karaka Million winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) also feature close up in the pedigree.
“It is a pedigree that Garry Chittick has fostered over many generations,” Hennessy said. “It is a very strong family that Waikato Stud has bred a huge number of stakes winners from.
“It is a pedigree that Garry Chittick has fostered over many generations.” - Gary Hennessy.
Hennessy said Ocean Emperor would be a good outcross for smaller breeders at an affordable fee.
“We’ve got mares of our own to support him as well. We’ve got four Flying Spur mares and Zabeel had five winners with three stakes winners, including Preferment.
“You look at Savabeel, he’s had 15 winners out of Flying Spur mares and five stakes winners. It’s an easy make up for breeders to get themselves a stakes winner with a son of Zabeel like him.
“We’ll give him our best shot. I’m standing him on my own, but there’s a lot of small breeders like myself and it’s a chance to breed a quality horse from a horse with the pedigree and the looks.”
