Ashburton jockey Tom Hazlett rode The Jolly Dancer and Yourtheman, who are now in contention for the Grand National Steeplechase-Hurdles double on Saturday.
The Koral is named for the great jumper owned by Bill Hazlett, a great-uncle of Tom Hazlett.
Koral won the race in 1965, '68, '69 and '71 when it was known as the Lincoln Steeplechase.
The name was changed in 1973.
Koral won the Homeby Steeplechase at Riccarton seven times and a National Steeplechase.
Oulaghan also won the Winter Cup with Amore Mia in 1996 and Jolly Rodger in 2000.
Buddy Lammas partnered Shamrock Star, who led throughout and won by two lengths.
The win surprised Oulaghan as Shamrock Star had been unplaced in his three other starts on heavy tracks.
The 8yr-old Germano gelding is owned by Eamon Cleary, of Queenstown, Ron Lockwood, of Hamilton, and Peter Johnston, of Auckland.
Cleary, a wealthy businessman, raced Rand from the Oulaghan stable.
Cleary bought Rand after he won the National Hurdles in 2000.
Oulaghan took the Omnicorp gelding to the United States and won a jumping race in Tennessee.
It was the fourth win in the Koral for Oulaghan, who won the race in three successive years from 1996 with Deecee Seven.
He won the Sydenham with Tommy Lad in 1999.
Hazlett won the Sydenham on Willywince in 2002.
Deeceeseven won the National Steeple in 1997 and '98.
Yourtheman, winner of the National Hurdles two years ago, mastered topweight of 67.5kg to win decisively after racing close to the pace.
Yourtheman missed the race last year through a tendon injury.
The Yamanin Vital gelding returned to win the Waikato Hurdles in May.
Oulaghan and Palmerston North owners Len and Marion Haydock now have their sights on the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan.
The Haydocks were at Riccarton yesterday.
They had been on holiday in Egypt when Yourtheman won the Waikato Hurdles and at a conference in Brisbane when the gelding won the National.
They have Yourtheman leased with a $25,000 right of purchase from Oulaghan.
The lease has come up for renewal at the end of July the past two seasons.
"I was prepared to buy the horse last month but Mark kindly renewed the lease the previous year when the horse had been injured so we are continuing on the same terms," Len Haydock said.
Kidunot was scratched from the Sydenham with a view to a start in the National on Saturday.
Brian and Shane Anderton were satisfied with the effort of Nicholman to finish seventh.
"He wasn't that far away at the finish. He is not his best in that ground," Brian said.
"We will start him the National Steeplechase."
Shane said the steeple track would provide firmer footing.
The Jolly Dancer was having his first experience of the Riccarton country when he raced handy to the pace and won by four lengths.
"I think he [The Jolly Dancer] would be improved," Oulaghan said.
The Jolly Dancer missed the Manawatu and Wellington Steeplechases through abandonment of meetings this winter.
I'manace, winner of the Koral two years ago, finished second to The Jolly Dancer yesterday with Dan Moran in a gap of nine lengths third.
Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers won with Yanna Marie, Roualyn and Sparking yesterday.
Yanna Marie gave the leaders a start of several lengths at the 300m and won by 2.
