For the second time in three years, Hemi produced a brilliant frontrunning ride to win the listed 2400m feature for the father-and-son training partners.
Her rivals let Hemi dictate the pace to suit Orepuki Lad, much like she did when winning the 2017 Invercargill Cup with La Nouvelle Vague.Her brilliant previous form in his colours gave Graham Eade a boost in confidence before she rode Orepuki Lad for the first time on Saturday.
"She won the Invercargill Cup on La Nouvelle Vague with a great ride and she has done the same again today," Graham Eade said.
"We were delighted to be able to get Leah to ride him, as she really gets on well with our horses."
Orepuki Lad’s pedigree — by Raise The Flag from The Star Gazer — suggested he would see out the 2400m of the Dunedin Gold Cup.He did exactly that in just his second run over further than 1800m and in his 12th start.
"I did have a small concern about the trip, but he is from a great staying sire in Raise The Flag, while his dam was shaping up over distance before she was retired due to injury," Eade said.
Orepuki Lad’s fast rise through the southern staying ranks can be credited to the horse strengthening this campaign, Eade said.
"He was a big gangly thing last year but once he came back from his break he really grew up.
"He’s never been a great eater but that has improved and now he has strengthened up, he can round his races off much better.
"He is a real cruisy dude, as nothing bothers him. In fact, he nearly went to sleep when we put him back in the box after the race."
Aboli ran a good race for second, but had little chance of running down the winner after he established a winning break on the turn.
