Orientaped's change of plans yields back-to-back Coleraine Cups

Orientaped, aided by a brilliant ride by Jarrod Fry, defeated Ali Vital by a long head with Final Folly in third place. The nine-year-old was trained by the late Mark Primmer to win last year’s race while his future-son-in-law Mitch Freedman prepared him to win the 1800-metre race this year.

Freedman had entered Orientaped for a $35,000 open handicap at Sandown on Saturday but decided to scratch the veteran galloper in favour of the Coleraine Cup.

“I thought he would run well at Sandown but I ended up deciding to try and win back-to-back Coleraine Cups with the horse. I’m glad I chose to run him here,” Freedman said. “We had spaced his runs. His lead-up form was strong for a race like this. The win is a great result for Orientaped’s owners.”

Meanwhile, promising jumper Groenenboom staged a two-horse war with Sea Town before he won the $30,000 open steeplechase at Coleraine.

Groenenboom, under heavy riding from replacement jockey Martin Kelly, hung on to beat Swney’s Banjo with Sea Town in third place in the 3600-metre race. Kelly replaced top jumps jockey Steve Pateman on the eight-year-old. 

The win is Groenenboom’s third jumps victory from 15 starts for his Mount Gambier trainer John O’Connor.

And Warrnambool-trained jumper Chatham Road got up in the last couple of strides to win the $20,000 maiden hurdle.

It’s Electrifying loomed as the likely winner before being run down by Chatham Road over the concluding stages. Hot favourite Zabeelionaire put in a few sticky jumps before running running third.

The maiden hurdle and open steeplechase were the final jumps races for the 2014 jumping season.