Hard Leaf Relishes The Wet Deck At Oakbank
Wednesday, 18 Mar 2026
Hard Leaf 'Russell' found his favoured conditions this afternoon at Oakbank, when he recorded victory in Race 7, the CG&E 0-56 contest over the 1400m journey.
The wet conditions over recent days saw the track rated a Heavy 8 by the last race and this boded well for Russell, who travelled sweetly through the conditions for his pilot Will Price.
The four-year-old son of Long Leaf found a forward position in running and was quickly joined by other rivals jostling for an early position. The gelding handled the undulations of Oakbank to his advantage, which saw him gain the lead and a couple of lengths on his rivals on the downhill into the straight before lengthening again, when the whips were cracking at the business end, to record a two-length victory.
STR connections were not the only participants bullish on Russell putting in a solid performance, with the market support coming throughout the day for the gelding, as he shortened to his starting price of $6. It was a pleasing reward and result for Russell's owners, at only his fourth start with STR.
The wet conditions over recent days saw the track rated a Heavy 8 by the last race and this boded well for Russell, who travelled sweetly through the conditions for his pilot Will Price.
The four-year-old son of Long Leaf found a forward position in running and was quickly joined by other rivals jostling for an early position. The gelding handled the undulations of Oakbank to his advantage, which saw him gain the lead and a couple of lengths on his rivals on the downhill into the straight before lengthening again, when the whips were cracking at the business end, to record a two-length victory.
STR connections were not the only participants bullish on Russell putting in a solid performance, with the market support coming throughout the day for the gelding, as he shortened to his starting price of $6. It was a pleasing reward and result for Russell's owners, at only his fourth start with STR.
