Awesome Lad places consistently but wins prove elusive

Connections of Awesome Lad could be forgiven for wondering what the consistent gelding has to do to ring up a win this preparation after a string of minor placings.

When the six-year-old tackles a handful of rivals in the Sky Racing Summer Provincial Series Heat (1500m) at Hawkesbury on Wednesday he’ll have been runner-up in four of his last five starts and third in the other.

Awesome Lad’s latest second placing came in the $500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill on Golden Eagle Day and he carried 60.5kg there as Oakfield Arrow got the better of him late.

Trainer Jason Deamer has engaged Nash Rawiller to ride at Hawkesbury and he drops 4kg for what looks a class rise on paper but in reality is a race with a lot less in depth as well as in numbers.

With Awesome Lad’s on pace pattern he can be expected to cross from the outside gate in the small field and either lead or dictate from outside the leader in a race that’s his best to chance to post an overdue win since his last victory on Boxing Day in December 2020.

Hawkesbury trainer Stephen O’Halloran will be hoping for a repeat performance from his lightly raced four-year-old Oceans One in the Blakes Marine Handicap (1300m) after he broke through for his first success a couple of weeks ago.

While he’ll tackle the same track and distance as in his maiden win what is likely is that the conditions the race is run in will be in stark contrast to last start where he struck a heavy track and driving rain.

O’Halloran said on Sky Thoroughbred Central after the race he was grateful the gelding was able to lead and control things after his previous starts hadn’t gone to plan.