O'HALLORAN AFTER SPECIAL WIN AT FORMER HOME BASE

FRIDAY: December 27, 2024: IT will be a pretty special result if Hawkesbury trainer Steve O’Halloran can win his first Saturday race in town at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

The master horseman will saddle Jaex in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at the track where he spent 17 years of his life working with Gai Waterhouse and also her training partner Adrian Bott in the latter part.

During his time as one of Tulloch Lodge’s most valued employees, he was associated with five Golden Slipper winners before taking out his own licence in 2020.

O’Halloran took up an offer from Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Paul Fudge to train at his state of the art property (now owned by RacingNSW and being used by trainer Ciaron Maher) in the Southern Highlands, and prepared eight winners, including a midweek city breakthrough with Prince Of Arragon at Warwick Farm in September that year.

However, he and his family’s world was turned upside down the following year when Fudge, because of illness, decided not to continue the training operation.

Undaunted, O’Halloran started from scratch again at Hawkesbury, and has trained a further 15 winners.

A city success from his new base has so far escaped him, though the Irish expat has had a couple of placings at his former home track.

“Absolutely it would be very special if I could win at Randwick with Jaex,” O’Halloran said this morning when asked about attempting to win his first race at headquarters in his own right.

“This mare is very honest and gives 110 per cent every time she goes to the races.”

O’Halloran knew Rachel King, a former Tulloch Lodge apprentice when he worked there, and has booked her to ride Jaex.

A $21,000 purchase at the 2021 Inglis Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association yearling sale, the now five-year-old daughter of Exosphere has earned just over $136,000 from three wins (two at Wyong and the other at Kembla Grange) and six placings.

O’Halloran takes his mare to Randwick tomorrow on the back of a very pleasing second in the open company 1200m Sprint at the Mudgee Cup meeting on December 6.

“Her run was terrific that day,” he said. “She hit the line strongly from well back and I feel would have run the fastest last 600m.

“She beat home the third placegetter Extravagent Lad, who ran well again when placed at Randwick yesterday.

“The extra distance is going to suit her, and she has drawn the inside barrier.

“Unfortunately a bit of speed looks to have gone out of the race with the scratching of Prince Of Sorts (who ran yesterday on the Beaumont track at Newcastle), but still they usually run along over the 1400m at Randwick.

“I’m sure Rachel will give Jaex a good run, and hopefully she can get home.”

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Mick Attard has previously won at Randwick with Putt For Dough, and is just as keen to win another with him in the same race as Jaex.

Attard withdrew Putt For Dough from a Randwick engagement yesterday, and accepted with him in two races there tomorrow.

He has pulled him out of the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) to focus on the Midway.

“Putt For Dough’s owner left it to me, and I feel we are tackling the right race,” Attard said.

“Putt For Dough is racing well, but he needs to get cover to be able to finish off.”

Winona Costin rides the gelding, who was a last start third to Midnight Opal on heavy ground in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 7.

But she doesn’t ride him in trackwork.

“Putt For Dough is a difficult horse to ride work, and Willie Brewer does a terrific job for me in that regard,” Attard said.

“The horse is fit and ready to run well again.”