"We felt it would be asking too much of him if the track became heavy," Katie Carville, his part-owner, said from New York yesterday.
"He will have a trial and go to the Pelorus Classic." The $40,000 Pelorus Classic for 4yr-olds is at the Marlborough meeting on January 15.
Ohoka Texas advanced his record to nine wins from 17 starts when he won the Wairio Cup at Winton last Saturday in 2.57.7 for the 2400m, 0.5sec outside the track record. He has won three of his four starts this season since joining the Burnham stable of Mark Jones.
• Jaccka Justy, a runaway winner at Winton, has a $9000 free-for-all at Omakau on January 2 as his next assignment.
Jaccka Justy has won won five times since he began racing 12 months ago. He has had four wins from as many starts when trained by part-owner Charlie Smaill on his farm near Riversdale.
Jaccka Justy won first up when trained by Nathan Williamson but performed badly at his next start and he was returned to Smaill.
He then won at Invercargill and Forbury Park. Jaccka Justy rejoined Williamson but the Continentalman-Janine Jaccka gelding could only manage a second in eight starts. Back with Smaill, he has won his last two starts.
"I am still scratching my head why he has done so well for me," Smaill said.
"He seems to like the farm environment. I try and keep him relaxed."
Smaill and his wife, Ailsa, bred Jaccka Justy from Janine Jaccka, who was unraced.
"I bought her [Janine Jaccka] as a prospective broodmare and put her to stud after a bad report on her after she was broken in. She had no speed," Smaill said.
"I have since learned that was in keeping with her breed. They did not shown anything until a second preparation."
Janine Jaccka (Sundon-Spiritual Powers) has also produced Jaccka Jack, the winner of 11 races. Her third foal to race, the 4yr-old Jess Jaccka won a maiden trot by six and three-quarter lengths at Ascot Park on Thursday.
