Jonny Cox paid Ohoka Connor a great compliment after the pair combined to win yesterday’s Southern Supremacy Stakes Series heat at Oamaru.
The only question left to ask after Ohoka Connor and his stablemate Sweet Diamond scored decisive victories was which pacer was more impressive.
Both Stonewall Stud horses massively boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Southland Oaks and Southern Supremacy Stakes Finals with powerful displays in qualifying heats.
When asked which of the pair was the better winner, driver Cox struggled to split them.
"It is hard to say — Sweet Diamond sat parked and won in a track record time, whereas Ohoka Connor didn’t do as much work but he won very impressively.
"They are both just really nice horses."
A sedate tempo in the middle stages and subsequent sprint home could have left Ohoka Connor vulnerable in his Southern Supremacy Stakes assignment. But the 3yr-old charged home to score a stylish victory.
Ohoka Connor was described by Cox as "scary fast" — a big compliment considering the reinsman has driven his share of outstanding horses including New Zealand pacer of the year Self Assured.
"He is probably scary fast.
"We went to go and I asked him, then I had to ask him again and I think he went from third to fifth in an instant."
Quizzed on the horse’s potential, Cox said: "It is a big step up to horses like Don’t Stop Dreaming and Merlin but he will be in those good races racing against them."
Sweet Diamond sat parked for much of her Southland Oaks heat before holding off her rivals with ease.
The filly raced right up the kind of form she produced when fourth at group 1 level behind unbeaten sensation Millwood Nike.
"She chased Millwood Nike around last year and never disgraced herself," Cox said.
"The fillies today weren’t of that class.
"She sat parked but she relaxed really well and she really knuckled down in the home straight.
"She went super."
Cox produced his double in qualifiers for Southland’s signature 3yr-old features soon after taking up a position with Stonewall Stud’s trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer and Hayden Cullen.
Cox said he was excited to join the powerful Stonewall team.
