Saluting at Rosehill on Saturday in the Listed ATC Premiers Cup was progressive stayer Sense of Occasion, an $80,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Beamish Bloodstock from the draft of Yarraman Park. The six year-old son of Street Sense (USA) was having his second run for Kris Lees, having previously trained by the late Guy Walter, Joe Pride and Tony McEvoy. He scored a tenacious neck win over his stablemate Singing in the 1900 metre feature and will now be aimed towards the Group III Newcastle Cup next month. “To be honest I gave up on the winner in the run he was posted three deep without cover and the other horse was travelling sweet,” Lees said. “The second horse was game in defeat but full credit to the winner – he had a tough run. “It’s (the Newcastle Cup) about three weeks away and it’s a nice preparation for them.” Sense of Occasion has the overall record of six wins and six placings from 25 starts earning over $360,000 for his happy group of owners. Bred by Shadwell and foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Sense of Occasion is the second winner from Saywaan, a half-sister by Zabeel to Group I winner Rewaaya. Tracing to influential matriarch Easy Date, whose descendants include Golden Slipper winner Forensics and leading sires Snippets and Not a Single Doubt, Saywaan was on-sold by Shadwell in 2012 and died last year.
