CHRISTCHURCH - It was one of Mark Oulaghan's finest days as a trainer at Riccarton Park. But he wasn't flaunting it.
It's not in his nature. Oulaghan is not one to be seen jumping for joy in the birdcage at the excitement of a good win. He is a down to earth type, well aware that with the highs come the lows.
There is no question he is immensely proud of the feats his horses achieve but does not sing their praises with exaggeration. He would rather tell you a good horse is good for racing, not good for him.
Leaning against the wall of a tie-up stall after the day's last race on Saturday, Oulaghan spoke freely but was not about to get into self-praise.
When asked if he considered the day one of his most successful as a trainer, his moderate response was: "I suppose it could be."
The day had produced three wins, including the feature event, the group three Winter Cup (1600m) which was won by his well-performed six-year-old Jolly Rodger.
Oulaghan also won with Aragorn in a $20,000 novice steeplechase and a class one event with Moore's Hall who was posting his second consecutive win.
The three wins earned Oulaghan a $4500 bonus. The bonus was for a trainer that could produce three winners in a day. It carried a prize of $2250 in cash and the same amount in flights with Air New Zealand.
The value of the bonus is best illustrated in that to win the same amount by way of a trainer's percentage from a race, it would have to carry a stake of $75,000.
There are no such races with that stake in New Zealand during the winter. The Winter Cup, with a $50,000 stake, is the country's richest winter flat race. It was not just the wins that made Saturday a red letter day for Oulaghan.
From his other four starters he also had two thirds while a fourth placing by star jumper Rand on the flat was a rousing trial for the $40,000 Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton Park on Wednesday. In total Oulaghan's horses earned $53,150 in stakemoney.
Oulaghan also shared as an owner in the Winter Cup winning purse of $31,250. He races Jolly Rodger in partnership with Woodville publican Terry Hikaka.
For both Oulaghan and Hikaka it was their second Winter Cup success. They also won with Amore Mia in 1996 and the victory led to the purchase of Jolly Rodger.
Buoyed by the success of Amore Mia they purchased Jolly Rodger the following week for $25,000 at the South Island Sale.
Hikaka had raced Amore Mia with two other partners but he said they did not wish to be part of Jolly Rodger. Hikaka said Oulaghan stepped in to help share the cost.
"It was a big expense for me," Hikaka said.
Jolly Rodger notched his seventh win from 32 starts and now has stake earnings of $103,000.
The Yachtie gelding was ridden by star apprentice Michael Walker who said the horse did well after being held up for a run until halfway down the straight.
"There was only half a gap and he pushed his way through it," Walker said.
"It was a big effort from the horse. It's hard to sprint from off the mark after being held up like he was."
Jolly Rodger, the second favourite, was drawing away at the finish to score by 1-1/4 lengths from third favourite Nothing Lika Tango who had his chance after being camped behind the leaders.
A head back third was outsider Harrison with threequarters of a length to fourth-placed Ruakiwi Lad.
- NZPA
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