In a triumphant return to the winner's circle, Deebee Zapower, a six-year-old Power gelding, showcased resilience at Rotorua on Sunday.
Despite two lacklustre performances in his recent outings at Te Rapa and Hastings, the consistent performer redeemed himself under the guidance of trainer Gavin Opie.
Opie, acknowledging the challenges in the previous races, expressed confidence in Deebee Zapower's capabilities.
The horse, strategically settled off the pace by apprentice Niranjan Parmar, made a decisive move, surging four wide around the home bend.
Ultimately, he secured victory with an impressive three-length lead over Gwen's Daughter.
Opie reflected on the past races, stating, “His last two runs looked bad on paper but actually weren't as disappointing as some were saying. He had nothing go his way at either Hastings or Te Rapa, so we went into today with plenty of confidence.” The trainer highlighted the ease with which Deebee Zapower clinched the win, paving the way for future aspirations.
Looking ahead, Opie envisions a challenge in an open 1500m contest for Deebee Zapower. With an eye on the event at Pukekohe at the end of the month, Opie considers it an opportune moment for his charge.
“He is getting up in the weights now so I think we will try for an open handicap next time. There is a nice 1500m open at Pukekohe at the end of the month and he will get some weight relief in it, which will suit him nicely.”
Opie expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of his small team at Te Aroha. Just A Tipple, another contender in his stable, has contributed to the winning record with three victories in the last six starts.
Opie shared his enthusiasm, stating, “Things have been going well for us and all of our horses seem to be rounding into form nicely. We only have a small team, so getting wins from them on a Saturday is a real buzz.”