Ouninpohja handed August aim

Ian Semple is looking forward to saddling Ouninpohja for the first time in Saturday’s totepool August Stakes at Windsor.

The five-year-old has finished runner-up for Alan Swinbank in each of his five races this season but his new handler is hoping the application of a first-time visor can help him get his head in front at the weekend.

He has reportedly adapted well to his new surroundings and Semple hopes he can go close in the Listed test.

“Ouninpohja has settled in very, very well and he had some entries over a mile and six furlongs, but the owners, like myself, weren’t sure that is the ideal trip for him,” he explained.

“I might be wrong but I thought I would come back and go for a Listed race over a bit more than a mile and three furlongs and put a visor on him for the first time.

“He’s always looked to me to be a horse that needs some headgear on and we’ll try and hold him up and hope that we can really make him finish.

“We hope the ground stays good for him. They tell me this morning that they’ve only had four millimetres (of rain) and it’s still good at the moment.”

Providing Ouninpohja comes out of the race in good shape, Semple will aim to have him cherry-ripe for the Weatherbys Bank Stakes, registered as the Doonside Cup, at Ayr on September 16.

“He’s going down the route of the Doonside Cup at Ayr. That’s the future plan anyway,” he said.