WELLINGTON - He is one of the quiet achievers of New Zealand racing.
A trainer with a remarkable knack of transforming midweek maidens into horses with picket-fence formlines and has-beens on the flat into the finest jumpers in the land.
Awapuni's Mark Oulaghan is the trainer of the moment in the Central Districts.
From humble beginnings, Oulaghan has a stable of 30, including favourites for the Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton this month - Jolly Rodger and Rand respectively.
He trained 28 winners last season and is optimistic that number can be bettered this season.
"You always hope to do better," he said.
"I've got some better-bred horses coming through, which makes a change, but I guess you never know till they hit the track.
"We went a bit quiet over summer last season so I might keep a few more going this time."
For those who know Oulaghan that is about as bold a statement as you will get.
Oulaghan was raised in Woodville and gained his early racing education under the firm hand of the legendary Eric Ropiha. He took up training on his own accord 20 years ago and started out with two horses for his father.
His first winner of note was mighty galloper Bridge Player in the early 1980s but it has been in the past 10 years that his career has taken off.
Oulaghan moved from Woodville to Awapuni 3-1/2 years ago and he rates it a "good move".
Amore Mia won the 1996 Winter Cup for him while Jolly Rodger and jumpers Deecee Seven, Soberano, Goliath, Tommy Lad and latterly Rand have been great advertisements for his skills.
"I don't think I've got anything special, perhaps just time and patience," Oulaghan said. "A lot of the horses that I get have won two or three and I just find with another year on they strengthen up a bit.
"I don't automatically throw new horses over fences I just look where I can win races with them and quite often that is the way."
Rand is the perfect example of Oulaghan's expertise with seemingly exhausted talent. The five-year-old grey appeared to have reached his mark after winning once on the flat for young Foxton trainer Chris Waller. However, in the care of Oulaghan he has two wins on the flat and four over hurdles., and is now under offer to overseas buyers for about $200,000.
Racing: Quiet achiever finds that little extra something
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