Racing: Oulaghan factor rises to the top

Harvest The Gold (No 3) on his way to victory. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Kings Deep had Saturday's $100,000 Meadow Fresh Great Northern Hurdles won until the Mark Oulaghan factor kicked in.

It happened in a matter of only the last five strides.

No one can put more into a horse's stamina to see out the closing stages of a race than Oulaghan.

As often as you see it - and how often was it obvious in Grand National Week in Christchurch - it comes as a surprise.

Harvest The Gold had the Oulaghan factor going for him when he and Kayla Veenedaal swept past, when the race was virtually over.

The humble Manawatu trainer, bred of Irish stock, typically refused to take credit for the victory, attributing most of it to Kayla Veenedaal.

"She rides beautifully and horses relax for her."

Jumps jockeys are not necessarily stylists. No one mistook the late Kenny Browne for Shane Dye in the saddle, but he won more races than most.

In this game, horsemanship means more than Hollywood looks on a horse. Veenedaal rides with a long stirrup and sits up in the saddle, but the slightly unusual style suits horses.

It definitely suits Mark Oulaghan - and there are few more astute.

Veenedaal is 27. She has been riding at the top level for less than two full seasons, but her talent is such that she now already has a Grand National and a Great Northern to her credit.

Some talented jumps riders retire without as much.

King Deep has a portfolio of less than half a dozen jumping starts and did remarkably well in the big time. He has a good future.

Veteran Arose looked a threat and did well for third and well-fancied Sea King would have finished closer than fourth but for several bad jumps in the last 1400m.