Jay Ford confident Osipenko can end drought in The Lakes at Wyong

Osipenko hasn’t won for more than 20 months but jockey Jay Ford believes that can change in the new $500,000 The Lakes on Saturday.

Osipenko is a leading contender in the inaugural The Lakes. Picture: Grant Guy

Jockey Jay Ford played a significant part in denying Osipenko a drought-breaking success last start but believes the pair can now combine to win the inaugural $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong.

Ford was aboard Tavi Time on Boxing Day when the Kris Lees-trained galloper gunned down Osipenko in the shadows of the post in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick.

It was the closest Osipenko has come to winning since taking out the Group 3 Packer Plate way back on April 15, 2023.

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But Chris Waller’s Osipenko has shown resurgent form this preparation and Ford is confident a breakthrough success isn’t far away.

Osipenko’s day could come in the The Lakes this weekend.

“The last couple of runs have been really good,” Ford said.

“He has worked his way back into form and finds himself in a very winnable race on Saturday, albeit he has drawn awkwardly out in barrier 12 from that mile start at Wyong.

“He is one of the class horses in the race and the way he has been going and if he runs up to that, it puts him right in the thick of things.”

Tavi Time (outside) defeats Osipenko in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day. Picture: Bradley Photos

Osipenko was a $6 equal favourite in all-in betting at the beginning of the week but had drifted out to $8 after drawing out for The Lakes.

While the draw makes life more testing, Ford is adamant Osipenko has the ability to overcome the tricky gate.

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“He is coming back from 2000m to a mile and is pretty adaptable,” Ford said.

“He has been ridden effectively forward and back so I guess it is one of those things, we will have to wait and see final scratchings and see what the stable wants to do.

“I think he is pretty effective ridden either or forward or back and ran well the other day going forward in the Summer Cup.

“The start before he was ridden back from a wide gate and hit the line really strong.”

What a tight finish in the Summer Cup!

Tavi Time gets the nose in front of Osipenko and wins it! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/J1bSfRwtqh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2024

A capacity field of 14 runners was revealed for The Lakes on Wednesday with Waller set to launch a three-pronged attack with Waterford ($10) and Geriatrix ($19) also set to line up.

The Ingham winner Robusto, one of two runners for Bjorn Baker, shares $5 favouritism with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Redbreast.

Ciaron Maher has a strong hand with St Lawrence ($13) and Junipal ($23).

Originally published as Jay Ford confident Osipenko can end drought in The Lakes at Wyong