Talented three-year-old Sweet Leader faces a moment of truth at Te Rapa on Saturday.

He will be coming back from surgery when he resumes against a competitive age group line-up in the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes.

Sweet Leader Photo: Race Images Palmerston North

“He’s had a wind operation since his last run,” said Lance O’Sullivan, who prepares the son of O’Reilly with Andrew Scott.

“He looks extremely well and he’s forward enough to go a big race.”

While all the outwardly signs are positive, O’Sullivan said the true test was yet to come.

“The operation went well, but you never really know with these things until they are put under the pressure of a race.”

A trial had been considered for Sweet Leader ahead of his return, but such was his progress at home that it was decided go to straight to Te Rapa.

“We thought about it a few weeks ago, but he was looking good and we decided he didn’t need to trial and we’re quite comfortable with that decision.”

Placed in his only two-year-old appearance, Sweet Leader won on debut at Taupo this season before he again beat the older horses in a Rating 65 contest at Te Rapa.

The colt was then an early favourite for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, but his campaign was halted after he ran fifth in the Listed Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton. His connections weren’t satisfied with his work subsequent to that outing. – NZ Racing Desk.

David Archer is no stranger to top level success and he could be in line for a return to the glory days with his latest black type winner.

He races the promising Charles Road, who downed his age group opposition in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on Saturday.

Charles Road Photo: Race Images Palmerston North

Archer, who celebrated no fewer than 10 Group One wins with his two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa, was on course to cheer his son of Myboycharlie to victory.

“He’s a really nice horse and I’m quite relieved to see him do that,” he said.

“He’s been up since July and he’s only a three-year-old and he’s going to come to the end of it at some stage so it was a very gutsy win.”

Charles Road is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, who were both in Sydney, and he was ridden by Craig Grylls.

The Matamata-based jockey was happy to sit toward the back of the field with the gelding before they moved ominously into contention across the top.

Charles Road lengthened stride impressively in the closing 300 metres to win for the second time in his seven start career. He also finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas before running sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.

Fourth in the Ellerslie classic was Beaumarchais and he chased Charles Road home on Saturday with Leading Role making ground from last to take third money. – NZ Racing Desk.

The Wexford Stables team know there is a precedent for their tilt at a trans-Tasman two-year-old double this weekend.

The famous Matamata training operation won both the Sires’ Produce Stakes in Sydney and the Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes on the same day in 1998.

Summer Passage Photo: Trish Dunell

Dave and Paul O’Sullivan produced Alf to win at Randwick while Zola claimed the Ellerslie feature, now known as the Sistema Stakes.

The current Wexford trainers, Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, are seeking a slightly different but equally prestigious juvenile Group One double on Saturday.

Summer Passage, who has already won the Sistema Stakes, tackles the $A1 million Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick, less than two hours after Princess Rihanna and Nothin’ On Me represent the stable in the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni.

Scott acknowledged that Summer Passage faced a major step up in Sydney, where he will be ridden by Zac Purton.

“His New Zealand form has been encouraging and we had to have a go,” he said. “He’s a happy horse and still on the way up, has the right jockey on and has form on right-handed tracks, so he ticks a few boxes.”

Summer Passage has yet to race on a track rated as worse than dead, but Scott will not be overly concerned if the track remains in the soft range.

Meanwhile, former stable apprentice Derek Leung will take the ride on Princess Rihanna at Awapuni

“Derek is going really well in Hong Kong and won two races at Sha Tin last Sunday,” Scott said.

Princess Rihanna won on debut and has since posted fourth placings in the Gr.3 Eclipse Strakes, the Karaka Million, the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes.

A debut third in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, Nothin’ On Me was fifth when resuming last time out in the Breeders’ Stakes’ at Matamata. – NZ Racing Desk. 

“So far so good,” O’Sullivan told horsebetting.com.au. “He had a bit of a long trip, but he seems OK and we’re happy.”

THE Kiwi runners have dominated age group racing during the Sydney autumn carnival to date and Summer Passage will look to continue the roll in this Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Inglis Sires’ at Randwick.

Trained by the Wexford Stables partnership of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Summer Passage has won its last two starts after finishing second on debut at Pukekohe.

The talented son of Snitzel scored a strong win in the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie earlier this month and co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan is happy with how it has settled in Australia.

“So far so good,” O’Sullivan told horsebetting.com.au. “He had a bit of a long trip, but he seems OK and we’re happy.”

This will be the biggest test to date for the two-year-old which faces some talented local runners including Golden Slipper runners Menari and Chauffeur, but it is steady in the market at $12 with Australian bookmakers.

The barrier draw of 13 won’t help its chances, but O’Sullivan is counting on that there will be more early speed in the Inglis Sires’ as opposed to racing in New Zealand.

“We’ll just ride it as it goes. There will probably be a lot more speed in Australia,” O’Sullivan said.

“We think he’ll be in the first part of the field, but we won’t make a big call.”

O’Sullivan isn’t making an early decision about race tactics and will instead seek advice from internationally-renowned jockey Zac Purton.

“We won’t make a big call, we’ll discuss it with the jockey,” O’Sullivan said.

“He can race back – he raced back at the trials, so it doesn’t worry it.”

The $1 million juvenile feature has been the plan throughout its preparation, but O’Sullivan hasn’t ruled out any future Australian targets this season.

“This is our plan,” he said. “He’s run by the owners of course, but we thought this would be his grand final.”

Summer Passage will jump from a wide gate at Randwick on Saturday in his quest for consecutive Group One victories.

The last-start Sistema Stakes winner has barrier 13 in a capacity 16-horse field for the Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes, in which he will be ridden by Zac Purton.

The Hong Kong-owned juvenile was accompanied on a Tuesday morning’s flight to Sydney by Andrew Scott, who trains the two-year-old with Lance O’Sullivan.

Meanwhile on the home front, the stable has yet to commit to a start with Princess Rihanna in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

A decision will be made on Wednesday with the filly to be ridden by Derek Leung if she heads to Awapuni.

Blake Shinn says the sky’s the limit for Summer Passage, who provided the leading Sydney jockey with a memorable victory at Ellerslie.

His aggressive ride aboard the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained and Hong Kong-owned colt paved the way for their dashing victory in Thursday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes.

Summer Passage Photo: Trish Dunell

“He’s an exceptional two-year-old and it’s a big thrill to get my first Group One winner overseas,” Shinn said.

“I’m delighted to have got the opportunity to ride such an exciting horse.”

It was his fellow Australian jockey Zac Purton who had originally been booked for Summer Passage, but the postponement of the meeting from Saturday resulted in the Hong Kong-based rider’s unavailability and Shinn received the call.

“I didn’t expect to be here today and I feel for Zac who has missed out due to unfortunate circumstances,” Shinn said.

He bounced Summer Passage out from the widest gate to sit outside the leader and, when asked, the son of Snitzel showed sharp acceleration in the straight to beat Star Treasure and Gold Fever.

“I took the initiative from the wide draw to go forward and kept him in a comfortable rhythm,” Shinn said.

“He showed a great turn of foot 300 out to put the race to bed.”

A crack at the $A1 million ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 1 will now be a hot topic of discussion for the Summer Passage team.

“We’ll talk to Blake and the owners and then make a decision, it’s certainly on the radar,” O’Sullivan said.

“This has been a tremendous thrill, it’s a great result. The first time we ran him up at speed he showed a lot of natural ability so it’s pretty special for Andrew and I and the team at home.”

Summer Passage is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who also raced the Gr.1 Livamol Classic winner Willie Cazals out of O’Sullivan and Scott’s Wexford Stables. – NZ Racing Desk.

Precocious colt Summer Passage has strengthened his case for an autumn trip across the Tasman with an impressive home track triumph to open his black type account.

The pacy son of Snitzel made full use of an inside gate to pave the way for a front-running victory in the Listed Reid & Harrison Ltd Slipper at Matamata on Saturday.

Summer Passage downs Summer Monsson (orange cap) Photo: Trish Dunell

Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott for Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who also raced the Gr.1 Livamol Classic winner Willie Cazals out of Wexford Stables, the youngster’s immediate future will be up for discussion next week.

Options include the $A3.5 million Gr.1 Golden Slipper and the $A1 million ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes should connections be keen on Sydney.

“There will be a board room meeting, but he’s still got to improve to get to those heights,” Scott said.

An $A800,000 Sydney yearling, Summer Passage finished runner-up on debut at Pukekohe last month from an outside alley, but on Saturday he was able to hold the front from an inside barrier.

“There was a lot of pressure early in the race when they went hell for leather and then he kicked off the corner,” Scott said. “That was really encouraging for the future.”

Summer Passage was clear 200 metres from home and under the urgings of Craig Grylls he held a strong gallop to win by half a length.

“We had to take bad luck out of it and put him in the race,” Grylls said. “He came back to me nicely and he had a good kick.

“He put it all together today and he’s a very strong colt with a brilliant action.”

Summer Monsoon closed well to finish runner-up ahead of Hanger, who acquitted himself well on debut.

Summer Passage is in fine order for his home track rematch with Aim Smart in Saturday’s Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper.

The Matamata colt, who is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, worked impressively on Tuesday morning alongside his stablemate Miss Foxy Gal over 1000 metres in 1.02, the closing 600 in 35.2.

Summer Passage finished runner-up to Aim Smart in their first meeting at Pukekohe Park last month when both youngsters were on debut.

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott can strengthen their Gr.1 New Zealand Derby hand on Saturday if Charles Road lifts to another level.

The Matamata trainers have no doubt about the well-related gelding’s talent, but his lack of experience is a concern and his immediate future will be determined by his performance in the Gr.2 Retina Specialists Avondale Guineas.

Charles Road Photo: Trish Dunell

Charles Road has a win and three placings from his four appearances and last time out he finished strongly for second behind Camino Rocoso.

“Craig Williams got off him and said he was still very raw, but he believed he had more than his share of ability,” Scott said.

“He’s coming to hand well now and holding his condition, which is important at this time of the year. He’s still improving and he’ll be going around two corners for the first time, but he’s making good progress.

“If he runs really well again then we would have to give him his chance in the Derby.”

Out of a half-sister to the Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair, Charles Road is currently at $18 in the Vodafone-sponsored Derby market while stablemate and race rival Cha Siu Bao is at $12.

“Every race Cha Siu Bao has had he’s been hitting the line and his performance the other day was solid and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t put in a similar run on Saturday,” Scott said.

The colt got home strongly last time out for fourth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, a position he also filled in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas and in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

“Both our runners will be each way chances and we don’t lean toward one more than the other - the question mark could be the track, if the rain does come, as neither of our horses have run on bad ground.” – NZ Racing Desk.

A full field of 14 plus one emergency has been confirmed for the 10th Karaka Million, to be held at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting Ellerslie on Sunday 29 January.

New Zealand’s equal richest race, the Karaka Million (1200m) is held on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series commencing at Karaka and consists of graduates from Karaka 2016.

The top qualifier is Gift of Power (NZ) (Power), who impressively won all of her first three starts including the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Listed Wellesley Stakes. She has earned $107,400 from four starts and will be ridden by Craig Grylls. The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained runner has drawn gate 2. She was purchased by Team Rogerson at the Premier Sale for $180,000 from Cambridge Stud.

Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) handed Gift Of Power her first defeat in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, coming from last with a huge late charge to win by a head. It boosted her earnings to $61,000, propelling her to second on the order of entry. Trained by Stephen McKee, who won last year’s Karaka Million with Xiong Feng, Hasahalo was bought by Go Racing at the Premier Sale for $110,000 from Waikato Stud. Hasahalo will be ridden by Blake Shinn and will jump from barrier 10.

Another McKee-trained runner, and representing some of the same owners as Xiong Feng, is Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro). A last-start winner at Ellerslie, he has earned $33,150 from three starts to be the third highest qualifier. He was offered by Monovale Farm at the Premier Sale, where Mr KC Tan bought him for $70,000. He has drawn gate 7.

Next in the order of entry is Padraig (NZ) (Power), who has recorded a win and a placing from two starts for earnings of $19,600. He is trained by Brendon Hawtin, who took over when Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young relocated to Victoria. Busuttin and Young bought him for $90,000 at the Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud. Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Padraig will jump from gate 12.

Felton Road (NZ) (Pins) is unbeaten in two starts, earning $17,900 in prize-money to qualify in fifth place. The Tony Pike-trained runner was bought by Botswana Bloodstock for $20,000 at the Select Sale from the draft of Waikato Stud. Felton Road will be ridden by Leith Innes and has drawn the inside gate.

The first of the Australian raiders is Ameridon (NZ) (All American), trained by Liam Birchley. The Queenslander has won the Karaka Million twice before with Sister Havana (General Nediym) in 2010 and Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) in 2015. Ameridon has won one of his two starts and will jump from gate 13 for rider Robert Thompson. Offered by Haunui Farm at the Select Sale, Ameridon was bought by Birchley for $140,000.

Haunui Farm stallion Showcasing sired the 2015 winner Hardline (NZ) and last year’s runner-up Showmeyamoneyhoney (NZ). He is the sire of two runners in this year’s field including Princess Rihanna (NZ), who has won one of her two starts and earned $15,650 in prize-money. Craig Williams will ride the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly, who has drawn gate 4. Wexford Stables bought her for $24,000 from the draft of Haunui Farm at the Select Sale.

Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta won the 2011 Karaka Million with Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward) and will be represented this year by Dijon Bleu (NZ). The daughter of Burgundy has had two starts for one win and earnings of $14,250. She will jump from gate 9. Latta paid $26,000 to buy her from Landsdowne Park at the Select Sale.

The second Showcasing runner is Oscar Eight (NZ), who was bought by NZB as agent for $21,000 from the Festival Sale draft of Haunui Farm. The Nigel Tiley-trained runner has yet to win a race but has had two seconds and a fourth from three starts and earned $14,250 in stakes. He has drawn the extreme outside gate of 15.

Commands filly Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) has picked up a win and a placing from three starts, earning $14,075. She is trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, will be ridden by Opie Bosson and has drawn gate 3. She was bought by David Ellis for $57,500 at the Premier Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm.

Waldorf (NZ), by first season sire Highly Recommended), has had three starts for a win and a placing and earnings of $14,075. He is trained by Andrew Campbell for some of the same owners as Padraig. He will jump from gate 5. He was offered by Berkley Stud at the Select Sale, where Campbell bought him for $30,000.

So You Think filly Global Thinking (NZ), trained by Shaune Ritchie, has had one win from three starts for earnings of $13,000. She will jump from gate 8. Offered by Phoenix Park at the Premier Sale, she was bought by KRD Racing for $40,000.

The second Australian visitor is the Peter Robl-trained Te Amo (Not A Single Doubt), who has had a second and a fourth from her two starts. She will be ridden by Jay Ford and has drawn gate 11. Offered by Landsdowne Park at the Premier Sale, she was bought by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $220,000.

The Go Racing syndicates will have two runners in this year’s race, with Hasahalo joined by Sophie’s Choice (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The Stephen Marsh-trained filly has finished second and fourth in her two appearances for $6,250. She has drawn gate 14. Go Racing bought her for $40,000 from The Oaks Stud’s draft at the Select Sale.

Just outside the 14 starting spots is Iffragal (NZ) (Iffraaj), who has earned the same amount of money as Sophie’s Choice but missed out when lots were drawn on Monday afternoon. Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, she has had a second and a fifth in her two appearances. If she makes the field, she will jump from gate 6. David Ellis bought her for $200,000 from Lyndhurst Farm at the Premier Sale.

The six-race programme is scheduled to commence at 4.58pm with the first race of the Karaka Million Series, the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup running at 5.33pm as Race 2, followed by the Res. Listed $100,000 NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile at 6.07pm as Race 3 and the  Res. Listed $1m Karaka Million race at 7.16pm as Race 5.

Cha Siu Bao’s performance in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas has boosted confidence in his ability to rise to a greater challenge in the autumn.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained three-year-old got home late to finish fourth at Ellerslie in the New Year’s Day feature, during which he also lost a plate.

Cha Siu Bao Photo: Race Images Christchurch

“He ran home the fastest last 600 metres of the race after he was slow to begin,” Scott said.

“It was a really encouraging run so it all looks good for him going forward.”

Fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at his previous appearance, Cha Siu Bao’s target race is the $1 million Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 4.

“We’ll probably run him in the Waikato Guineas and then, all going well, a traditional path into the Derby,” Scott said.

Victory would complete a memorable double for his Hong Kong-based owners Hermitage Thoroughbreds. They also raced Cha Siu Bao’s former stablemate Willie Cazals, who won the Gr.1 Livamol Classic last spring before a suspensory ligament injury forced his retirement.

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan and Scott also have high hopes for Miss Foxy Gal, who will debut in the Cambridge Stud Stallions 2YO at Ruakaka on Friday.

The Foxwedge filly, to be ridden by Craig Grylls, was put aside after a trial in the spring and more recently she won her 800 metre heat at Avondale.

“That trial was very good, she jumped out and showed good speed,” Scott said. “She’s an improving filly and we’re confident that she’s going to run very well.” – NZ Racing Desk.

Sound Proposition will require a veterinary clearance before he can race again.

The five-year-old tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Zabeel Stakes at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and he was found to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia.

Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Sound Proposition won the Gr.1 Easter Stakes last season and as a three-year-old he also finished third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.

The trainers of Cha Siu Bao have high hopes that the smart three-year-old can outrun his pedigree.

“Everything he does has indicated to us that his tendency is to stay so we’re cracking on with him toward the longer distances,” said Andrew Scott, who prepares the colt at Matamata with Lance O’Sullivan.

Cha Siu Bao Photo: Race Images Christchurch

By Smart Missile, who was a Group Two winner up to 1200 metres out of Ballet Society who won up to a mile, Cha Siu Bao was successful in both of his lead-up races to Riccarton where he finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

“That was a really good performance from him and he enjoyed a nice break after that,” Scott said.

“He’s doing well and, at this stage, we’re hoping to run him at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day in the Great Northern Guineas and then press on.”

Cha Siu Bao’s long-term target is the $1 million Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 4.

Meanwhile, his talented stablemate Glass Slipper is pencilled in for a Boxing Day return.

“We’ll be looking to run her in the Eight Carat Classic, that’s the plan and she has gone very well around Ellerslie before,” Scott said.

The daughter of Pins finished third there behind Manolo Blahniq in last season’s Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes and two runs back she was also runner-up to Astara in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes.

Glass Slipper was subsequently unplaced in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton. – NZ Racing Desk.