Racing: Big test for Ohoka Punter

Ohoka Punter resumes after an 11-month layoff at Cambridge tonight. Photo / Dean Purcell

Trainer hopeful but not over-confident that forgotten top pacer can win at Cambridge.

It is probably a good thing Ohoka Punter isn't in a leg of the $250,000 Pick6 at Cambridge tomorrow.

Because a horse as brave as the forgotten superstar doesn't need the pressure of being everybody's Christmas anchor in his first race for exactly 11 months.

Not that trainer-driver Tony Herlihy isn't confident the 5-year-old can win his comeback race, but he knows how testing fresh-up runs in the intermediate grade can be.

Ohoka Punter has raced just once in the past 18 months and resumes off a 20m handicap in a full field in race six tomorrow.

With Cambridge carding 12 races at one of its strongest meetings in years, the $250,000 which jackpots from last Thursday begins on race seven.

Which maybe gives Ohoka Punter some latitude for punter forgiveness if traffic or a lack of race fitness sees him beaten fresh-up.

First a recap. With the remarkable feats of Adore Me, Christen Me and Terror To Love in the past month you could be forgiven for having slightly grainy memories of Ohoka Punter.

He is the muscular pacer who has won 11 of his 18 starts, nearly $500,000 and never been unplaced.

He came from the second line to win the Victoria Derby last year then downed Adore Me and Franco Nelson in one of the truly great Northern Derbys a month later.

Already a 1:51 miler, his troublesome tendons are the only judder bar between him and being a major Cup winner.

Which is why when they flare up, Herlihy puts the wonderful pacer straight to the paddock because he deserves the chance to be the great horse he has the potential to be.

He warmed up for tomorrow's return with two recent workouts, the second at Alexandra Park last Saturday when he hit the line locked together with NZ Cup runner-up Franco Nelson. Which sounds pretty good form for a $10,000 race at Cambridge.

"I was very happy with him," said Herlihy.

"He obviously improved with his first workout and they went 2:42 (2200m mobile) and home in 55 seconds on Saturday and he felt good.

"So I am more confident after that that he can win fresh but it is never easy, especially in a big field at Cambridge, where it is so hard to come from off the pace."

The no-push out rule should enable Herlihy to move mid-race if the pace slackens so expect Ohoka Punter to open short with the bookies for tomorrow's afternoon fixture.

At any normal Cambridge meeting Ohoka Punter would stand out but tomorrow he is just one of the many real-deal horses on show.

Dalton Bromac will back up from his national record run at Alexandra Park against Venus Serena in the JLT Futurity with New Zealand Cup runnerup Franco Nelson being scratched.

Stent will take on Sheemon and Dominion winner Jaccka Justy in the Flying Mile Trot.

Classic Cambridge
*Dual Derby winner Ohoka Punter returns at Cambridge tomorrow.
*He is only one of the stars at a meeting that boasts open-class trotters and pacers.
*The meeting has a $250,000 Pick6.