Trainer Donna Scott believes she has a genuine Country Championship contender in Oamanikka after he upstaged some handy sprinters at Albury on Saturday.
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Resuming after a six week freshen-up Oamanikka notched his fourth win in eight starts in the $22,000 Benchmark 66 Hcp, (1175m) with Blaike McDougall aboard.
McDougall settled midfield on the well supported $3.10-favourite before timing his run to perfection out in the centre of the track.
Oamanikka overhauled Kaipaki ($6) to win by a neck.
Scott said Oamanikka would now be sent for another freshen-up ahead of targeting the Country Championship Qualifier at Wagga.
"There was a bit of pressure on the horse on Saturday because he has been up for a while," Scott said.
"He was also dropping back in distance and had a big weight (60kg).
"But he cleared all those hurdles which was pleasing to see from a Country Championship perspective.
"The horse has done a massive job so far.
"His was up against some handy rivals and to win in that sort of fashion is really exciting going forward."
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Scott said McDougall was always confident of victory as the race unfolded.
"Blaike said he was always travelling like a winner," she said.
"He feels there is still plenty of improvement left in the horse.
"We might look at adjusting his head gear and adding some blinkers.
"But Blaike was rapt with the performance."
Scott said Oamanikka had emerged as the stable's No. 1 contender for the Country Championships.
"At this stage he is," she said.
"La Sante is set to race at Corowa on December 28 in a similar sort of race and it will be a test for him.
"But at this stage Oamanikka seems to have the wood on La Sante.
"Bautista is back in work and Blaike has an opinion of him as well in regards to the Country Championships."
Scott said Halo Warrior could also form part of her Country Championship assault.
Halo Warrior handed both Scott and McDougall a winning double after a dominant win in the $22,000 Class One Hcp, (1175m).
"I've got a bit of opinion of the horse," she said.
"I thought he was good enough to win a race over the Wagga carnival last May but he went amiss with a foot abscess.
"He had trialled well before Saturday and we were confident he would be hard to beat."
