PUNTERS were left gobsmacked when the Aaron Purcell trained O’Ceirins Secret – at odds of $26 – won a benchmark 58 race at Terang on Monday after two inglorious runs for the Warrnambool based trainer.
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O’Ceirins Secret, who was having his third run for Purcell had been beaten by 23 lengths and 30 lengths at his previous runs for the quietly spoken trainer.
Purcell said the seven-year-old who was formerly trained by Luke Oliver was destined for a jumps career after he defeated Volcan De Fuego and Danza Kuduro.
“I thought O’Ceirins Secret might improve,” he said.
“He was just slow at his first start and then was detached from the field at his next run.
“I told jockey Declan Bates to be competitive on him. He's a big heavy horse who will be suited to races over more ground than the 1850 metres here.
“I hope he pays his way over the summer months as we’re targetting jumps races next year.”
Purcell was not the only western district trainer to taste success on the ten race program.
Mitch Freedman, Geoff Daffy and Ciaron Maher had winners while apprentice jockey Ben Allen rode three winners.
O’Ceirins Secret has won five races and placed four times from 22 starts for Aaron Purcell.
The seven-year-old gelding has now accrued more than $50,000 in prizemoney.
Ciaron Maher’s Dollopini was also a long odds winner, saluting from Darren Weir’s Black Mosheen in race two on the card.
Your Divine Archie, trained by Mitchell Freedman, repaid the faith of punters who backed him into favouritism to win at $5 odds over 1850 metres.