Ocean Park (NZ) opened his spring campaign with an stunning rails run to win the Makfi Challenge (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday.

And putting paid to a high-class line-up in the first Group 1 of the season confirmed he is on-course for the Melbourne spring carnival.  “I could see he was really travelling at the 600,” Matamata trainer Gary Hennessy said.  “This horse has got a huge turn of foot and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”

Ocean Park settled back in the body of the field before rider Lisa Allpress weaved him through gaps along the fence to defeat Xanadu (Elusive City) and Justanexcuse (No Excuse Needed).

“I always knew he was a good horse and he’s gone out and showed that,” Hennessy said.  “Everything has gone to plan and he’s nominated for the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate.  We will get him over to Australia in a couple of weeks and then run him in the Underwood Stakes.”

Ocean Park (4h Thorn Park – Sayyida by Zabeel) won three races last season including the G3 Wellington Stakes.  He then crossed the Tasman and was runner-up in the G1 Rosehill Guineas before sustaining an injury that curtailed his initial Australian campaign.

Hennessy purchased him from Trelawney Stud at the NZB 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $150,000 and then brought in Hong Kong owners Andrew Wong and Steve Yan.

Champion NZ sire Thorn Park got the Makfi Challenge winner from a daughter of talented Melbourne mare Eastern Princess (Pompeii Court) who is a three-quarter sister to Golden Slipper winner Courtza and her champion sire son O’Reilly.