Bruce looking for first Rockhampton win

By Glenn Davis

Deagon trainer Jack Bruce is hopeful Oohlalouvre can give him his first win at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park on Thursday when the promising filly tackles the $150,000 Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic.

Bruce has only had four starters for two placings at Rockhampton since taking out his trainers’ licence two years ago.

“I’ve only had a few starters at Rocky and that was last year when I went up for the Rockhampton Cup carnival,” Bruce said.

“I had Axe in the Rocky Newmarket and Quiet Riot which ran second in a Class 6 that day.

“Solar Apex was sent up for the Rockhampton Cup and Cash Me finished third in the Guineas.”

Oohlalouvre has only had one start finishing a game second to the Trevor Miller-trained Step Along in a 1000 metre Two-Year-Old Maiden on the Sunshine Coast Polytrack track in the middle of March.

She was then transported north with the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic on April 6 in mind but the race was washed out and rescheduled for Thursday.

Bruce is hoping the cancellation of the original race will prove a blessing in disguise as the daughter of Under The Louvre has since benefited from a barrier trial at Callaghan Park.

“I sent her up early for the original meeting after she got enough prize money to qualify by finishing second at the Sunshine Coast last month,” Bruce said.

“She’s been ticking away nicely up there ever since and she went well in a recent barrier trial up there.

“She jumped well in the trial and led and fitness wise she’s where she needs to be now.”

Bruce paid $30,000 for Oohlalouvre at the Capricornia Yearling Sales last year.

“Her pedigree wasn’t real sharp and I bought her mainly on type,” Bruce said.

“She looked to be an early runner and she’s got a great attitude. She hasn’t been forced and is now ready to go.”

Bruce has 60 horses in work shared between two stables at Deagon and the Sunshine Coast.

He is confident Oohlalouvre - a Jake Bayliss mount - will be competitive and her performance will decide if she heads to the Queensland Racing Carnival in Brisbane.

“She’s a good chance and she was quite green on debut so I’ve put blinkers on her,” Bruce said.

“I have no idea how the form stacks up against horses with a different form line but she’s effective enough to win as a two-year-old around South East Queensland.

“Whether that’s good enough to win up there I’m not sure, but she’s an improving type and what she did on debut was good.

“This is really her grand final. I didn’t have her pegged for the winter carnival here in Brisbane but if she wins on Thursday then I’d have to look at some of the races here for her.”