Okoye Warrior: A tale of triumph over adversity
At just five years old, Okoye Warrior has already faced her fair share of challenges. But despite a fractured hip, behavioural issues, and a disdain for the whip, this chestnut mare has emerged victorious in two of her three starts.
Trained by Randolph Scott, Okoye Warrior has shown a clear preference for the straight course, with all her races contested over five furlongs. Her latest win, on January 25, 2025, was a convincing 3½-length triumph, clocked in 47.3 seconds.
But behind Okoye Warrior’s impressive performance lies a more complex story. Scott revealed the mare’s tumultuous past.
“Okoye Warrior fractured her hip at two and three years old, which put her on stall rest for over 14 months. But that was just the beginning. She developed behavioural issues, refusing to allow exercise riders and jockeys to control her on the track,” Scott explained.
It took the expertise of jockey Andre Martin to temper Okoye Warrior’s behaviour, and she finally made her debut on October 19, 2024.
“We had high hopes, as we believed that Okoye Warrior had the quality to deliver. She won that race over the five straight, racing from the one draw, which is always a hindrance in a large field,” he said.
Despite her talent, the mare remains a work in progress. Scott is currently working to train her to race around the bend, a challenge that requires patience and dedication.
“To cut a long story short, Okoye Warrior is a talented mare with many problems, and these problems never seem to go away. By the way, Okoye Warrior cannot be whipped; she hates the use of the whip. Just look at her last race; Cardenas did not use the whip. At present, I am working long hours trying to get
Okoye Warrior to race around the bend. As always, time is the master,” Scott shared.