News

Derby hopes on line in Avondale feature - www.nzracing.co.nz

04 Feb 2015

Emerging three-year-old Sound Proposition will put his classic credentials to the test next time out in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas.

The 2100 metre age group feature at Ellerslie on February 14 will represent his sternest challenge in a brief career that has seen him win twice from four outings.

Sound Proposition photo: Trish Dunell

“He’s on a path to the Guineas and provided he runs well he’ll go on to the Derby,” said Andrew Scott, who prepares the Savabeel gelding with Lance O’Sullivan.

“His next run will be the yard-stick – it’s going to be a miniature Derby field.”

Sound Proposition has been held in high regard by Wexford Stables for some time and his last two performances have justified their opinion.

He broke his maiden at Tauranga and at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night he again beat the older horses over a mile with his defeat of the smart mare Arrow In The Sand.

“That gave us a lot of encouragement going forward,” Scott said. “He went a bit wide on the turn and came strongly down the outside.

“Even in the early stages at barrier trials he showed a good turn of foot and time was always going to be his friend.

“The Derby nominations come along quite early and it’s always in the back of your mind with a slow-maturing horse.

“He’s still quite immature, but he’s handling it all very well at this stage.”

Meanwhile, his Group One-winning stablemate Pure Champion is being set for a first-up return over 1200 metres at Ellerslie.

“He had a pretty tough run at Trentham and we’ve been wanting to run him right-handed all season, but there haven’t been suitable races,” Scott said.

“We’ll freshen him up and run him in the Darley Plate. Set weights and penalties will suit him.”

Pure Champion was unplaced from the outside gate last time out in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile. – NZ Racing Desk.

O’Sullivan ponders sprint options for stable star - www.nzracing.co.nz

28 Jan 2015

Paul O’Sullivan is weighing up his global options with the top-class New Zealand-bred sprinter Aerovelocity.

The expatriate Kiwi trainer has yet to finalise plans for the Pins six-year-old, but a trip to the United Arab Emirates for the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in March is on the cards.

Aerovelocity Photo - HKJC

“There’s a Group One race at home for him on the 15^th and then possibly Dubai,” the Hong Kong-based O’Sullivan said.

“It’s a 1200 metre race out there on the sand track and he has trialled brilliantly on the dirt in Hong Kong.

“He’s a really tough, tenacious horse and he could easily come back from Dubai and then go to Singapore – there’s enough time with two months between the races.”

The Singapore target would be the Gr.1 KrisFlyer International Sprint to be run at Kranji in mid-May.

An 11-time champion trainer in New Zealand, O'Sullivan has won numerous majors around the world, including the Japan Cup with Horlicks and the Cox Plate with Surfers Paradise, when training in partnership with his father Dave.

O’Sullivan has been in Hong Kong for the last 11 years and Aerovelocity added to his Group One record there when he was successful in the Hong Kong International Sprint in December.

That was the eighth win of the gelding’s 15-start career that began with a debut win in New Zealand for Andrew Scott, now in partnership with O’Sullivan’s brother Lance, at Feilding. – NZ Racing Desk.

Smooth sailing into Karaka Million for Strata Lady- www.nzracing.co.nz

22 Jan 2015

Cruising in transit and then flying home for victory.

That's what owners Alan and Christine Abel will be hoping for with exciting Matamata filly Strata Lady in Sunday's $1 million Karaka Million -- on two counts.

Strata Lady Photo - Race Images Palmerston North

The Tauranga couple are making a fleeting trip back to New Zealand to watch Strata Lady race, flying back from Rarotonga where the cruise ship they are holidaying on is docked for the weekend.

"Their boat is stopping off at Rarotonga so they are leaving the trip for a couple of days so the can fly back home and watch their horse race," Matamata trainer Lance O'Sullivan said.

"We discussed this about four weeks ago when we thought they might have a runner. I said to them 'you've got a runner in the Karaka Million, it would be great to be there to see her race'."

Strata Lady is one of three acceptors for the race with just one race under their belt, alongside Savason and the balloted The Justice League.

The Stratum filly was successful on debut at Awapuni last month, defeating subsequent Ellerslie winner and Karaka Million rival Bella Court.

O'Sullivan and his training partner Andrew Scott have resisted any temptation to start Strata Lady again in the lead-up to the Karaka Million, preferring to ensure she arrives at Ellerslie fresh and healthy.

"We've only had one run. We've sacrificed experience for soundness," O'Sullivan said.

"We just didn't want to throw everything at her and come out of the Karaka Million and then have no horse. We'd like to have her in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes after this and then if she's good enough we'll consider the Group One races.

"She's going into the race really happy. We're working on the theory that by keeping her happy, we'll get her to the race feeling good about her herself. It might not come off but that's the approach we are taking."

Victorian raider Ockham's Razor is the only previous Karaka Million winner to win the race at their second start, scoring by half a length in 2012 after running second at Caulfield at his previous start.

O'Sullivan's Wexford Stables paid $40,000 for Strata Lady at Karaka last year.

"She was a delicate filly but very athletic and with good scope and length. We liked that she had a good running Australian pedigree," said O'Sullivan of Strata Lady, whose third dam was Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever.

Champion Sydney-based New Zealand jockey James McDonald, who bred Karaka Million rival Bella Court, flies home to take the ride. - NZ Racing Desk

O’Sullivan has eye on upcoming three-year-old classics - www.nzracing.co.nz

05 Jan 2015

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott training partnership quickly put aside the disappointment of missing a Group One victory on New Year’s Day with Whosyourmaster when they produced a pair of promising three-year-olds to break their maiden status at Tauranga just 24 hours later.

Co-Trainer Lance O'Sullivan. Photo: Trish Dunell

Talented filly Suffire ended a frustrating run of minor placings to score with ridiculous ease over 1600 metres in the third race on the day with Sound Proposition, a son of current sire sensation Savabeel, matching his stablemate just one race later.

With both gallopers holding nominations for major three-year-old classics later in the summer, O’Sullivan was delighted the pair had produced encouraging displays as he looks to step both of them out over greater distances in the near future.

“Suffire has been a little luckless in her races so far in this campaign but everything fell into place for her at Tauranga and I think she showed she will only get better as she starts to get up to a middle distance from now on,” he said.

“She is strengthening up all the time and while she does hold a New Zealand Derby nomination I think it’s more likely she will head towards the New Zealand Oaks instead.

“Sound Proposition is also a Derby contender but we have to be a little more circumspect with him as he’s not as robust as the filly.

“He has any amount of ability but we will need to manage his workload carefully to get him to the race.”

O’Sullivan was also quick to acknowledge the superb effort of his star sprinter Whosyourmaster who went within a whisker of capturing the Gr. 1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie when beaten a nose by Matamata mare In Style.

“We set him for the race eight months ago and we failed by a nose to pull it off,” he said ruefully.

“When you get that close to completing the plan it can be a little hard to swallow but he tried his heart out and you can’t ask any more of them.”

Whosyourmaster will now head to Trentham for the Gr. 1 J&N Berkett Telegraph where O’Sullivan is hopeful he can go one place better on the day. – NZ Racing Desk

Waikato Stud loses "a great mate" - www.nzracing.co.nz

31 Dec 2014

Champion stallion O'Reilly has died.

Waikato Stud staff awoke on Wednesday to find the stallion dead in his paddock, most likely from a heart attack.

O'Reilly Photo - Trish Dunnell

Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, O'Reilly forged a career as a brilliant sprinter-miler, winning four of his six starts, including the Gr.1 Bayer Classic and the Gr.1 Telegraph in four unbeaten starts in New Zealand.

Retired to stud with a career-ending suspensory ligament injury, O'Reilly was quick to make his mark as a sire, leaving Gr.1 1000 Guineas winners Final Destination and The Jewel in his first two seasons.

Since then he has gone on to sire 79 stakes winners, placing him third on the all-time New Zealand list, behind Zabeel and Sir Tristram, with a string of top-class performers to his credit, among them Sacred Falls, Silent Achiever and Alamosa.

"He's been a wonderful story. He's been a great friend to us. He's been a lovely horse to have around - a great mate," Waikato Stud's Garry Chittick said.

"He's been a good horse for us but also a very good horse for New Zealand."

O'Reilly was buried on Wednesday morning alongside the likes of Centaine, Pompeii Court and Lady Aloof.

By Last Tycoon out of Golden Slipper winner Courtza, O'Reilly was a weanling at Waikato Stud when the Chittick family bought the farm as a going concern in 1994.

He was prepared for sale but later withdrawn and raced in Waikato Stud ownership with a view to developing him as a stallion prospect, which his Group One wins ensured would happen.

There was plenty of big offers to buy O'Reilly but Garry Chittick said the family would be forever grateful that he remained in Waikato Stud ownership.

New Zealand racehorse of the year in 1996-97, O'Reilly has three times won each of New Zealand's three stallion awards, for the last two years sweeping all three - the Grosvenor Award for domestic stakes earnings, the Dewar Stallion Trophy for Australasian earnings and the Centaine Award for global earnings. He has also won the Hong Kong sires' title.

"He's been an exceptional sire. His progeny have won Newmarkets to Caulfield Cups, Doncasters, Derbys and Oaks. He produces extraordinary racehorses," Chittick said.

"We got him as part of Waikato Stud when colonial-bred stallions weren't necessarily the flavour of the month. I'd been looking for stallions in Europe and I came home and said to Mark 'we should be keeping this horse' and I'm sure glad now we did.

"He's got sons at stud now and we've got Sacred Falls coming to us at the start of next season so the timing of that couldn't be much better. And his fillies and mares are doing the job. This season there's already been five Group One winners out of O'Reilly mares.

"He's got 79 stakes winners and he could get close to 100 by the time his last crops have finished racing." - NZ Racing Desk

Class test for Railway hope Whosyourmaster - www.nzracing.co.nz

30 Dec 2014

Lance O’Sullivan has just one reservation about the prospects of Whosyourmaster claiming a major sprint title at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

“It’s just whether he’s got the class to win a Railway,” O’Sullivan said. “He may lack a length, but on his day and with the right run he can be in it.”

A stakes winner and Group placed, Whosyourmaster was out of the money in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap off the back of a late finishing fifth in the Listed Counties Bowl.

He carried 58kg on both occasions and will be suited by the conditions of Thursday’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway Stakes, in which he drops to 55.5kg.

“His last run was disappointing and we know he’s better than that,” O’Sullivan said. “The set weight and penalties of the Railway will help him.”

Meanwhile, stablemate Kaleidoscope will carry winning form lines into her toughest test in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile.

“She likes Ellerslie and she is a really happy horse at the moment,” O’Sullivan said.

“She’s the type of mare that can jar up, but she’s free in her action now.”

Kaleidoscope was successful on the course two starts back and she struck again at Avondale where she defeated the highly-regarded Procurement.

O’Sullivan has also been happy with the progress of their Gr.2 NZB Royal Stakes contenders Attention Seeker and Orange Peel.

Attention Seeker won two in a row before she ran second in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes while Orange Peel was out of luck in the Awapuni feature.

“Attention Seeker keeps making the next step up,” O’Sullivan said. “She looks beautiful, she’s relaxed and eating well so she deserves her chance.

“Orange Peel got on heels in the Eulogy and sustained an injury, but she’s fine now. She’s the type of filly that likes a bit of room and she’s very well.”

Suffire is on the ballot for the Royal Stakes and a decision has yet to be made on a start should she make the field. – NZ Racing Desk.

Counting Down to Karaka Million - www.nzb.co.nz

29 Dec 2014

Counting Down to Karaka Million

Monday, Dec 29, 2014

The count-down is on for New Zealand’s richest race - $1m Karaka Million – taking place on January 25 at Ellerslie Racecourse.

With an outstanding class of two-year-olds lined up to try their hand in the Karaka Million, there will be fierce competition out as the field closes in just over three weeks.

The Order of Entry is determined by the prizemoney earned leading up to the race and with a field of just 14 horses eligible to run the race, the Order of Entry is starting to take shape.

Leading the Order of Entry is Showboy (NZ) (Showcasing) after taking victory in the Group 2 Golden Homes Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Wellington in early December. Trained by Pukekohe-based Nigel Tiley, he sits on a total stakes of $68,000.

Second on the leader-board is the unbeaten Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma) trained in Matamata by Jason Bridgman. This two-year-old filly claimed her place on the leaderboard in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes with a total stakes of $43,250.

Next is Maritimo (NZ) (Pins), trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, who claimed her third place with a 4.5 length victory in the Listed Sweet Orange at Highview Wellesley Stakes in October. This win increased her stakes to $37,500.

Following the top three horses is Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto), China Silk (Hard Spun), Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing), Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum), Platinum Express (NZ) (Showcasing), Outlaw Kate (Exceed and Excel) and Peach Cove (NZ) (Buffalo Man) and more.

This weekend’s races saw two more horses mark their spot on the leaderboard with Dal Cielo and The Justice League (NZ) (I Am Invincible) both winning races at Ellerslie.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained colt was an impressive winner of the DHL 2YO 1100m at Ellerslie’s Premier meeting on Boxing Day. Winning by 0.2 lengths, the son of Per Incanto has enhanced his winnings to $27,500, leaping 15 places to fourth position on the Order of Entry.

The Justice League did not waste any time when making his racing debut at Ellerslie on Sunday. Stablemate to Showboy, the two-year-old colt instantly placed himself in 15th position with an exceptional performance in the Maiden 2YO 1200m for trainer Nigel Tiley. The Justice League powered to victory by 4.5 lengths earning $5,900 in prizemoney.

The next two-year-old race is the Group 3 $70,000 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m) taking place at Ellerslie Racecourse on New Year’s Day. Horses nominated for this race include Maritimo, Windborne, Showboy, China Silk and Iff So Happens (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Below is the top 15 2YOs in the Order of Entry:

Order	Name	Breeding	Trainer	Sale	Price	Vendor	Purchaser	Total Stakes
1	Showboy	Ch. G Showcasing x Shades of Silk	N W Tiley	K3	$15,000	Haunui Farm	Nigel Tiley	$68,000
2	Windborne	B. F Darci Brahma x Sweet Dreams Baby	J W Bridgman	K2	$100,000	Goodwood Stud	Fortuna Syndications	$43,250
3	Maritimo	B. F Pins x Miracle Miss	G A Rogerson	K1	$200,000	Waikato Stud Ltd	Rogerson B/stock	$37,500
4	Dal Cielo	Br. G Per Incanto x Cent From Heaven	M P Baker	K2	$95,000	Little Avondale Stud	Bruce Perry B/stock	$27,500
5	China Silk	B. F Hard Spun x Uno Sayuri	Ms D Guy	S.I	$9,000	Curraghmore Stud	NZB as Agent	$14,900
6	Hardline	Ch. G Showcasing x Midnight Breaker	L F Birchley	K2	$130,000	Hallmark Stud	LB Racing	A$12,800
7	Strata Lady	B. F Stratum x Estermate	L A O'Sullivan	K1	$40,000	Cambridge Stud	Wexford Stables	$12,500
8	Platinum Express	Br. F Showcasing x My Other Woman	Ms L Latta	K2	$20,000	Haunui Farm	Lisa Latta Racing	$11,850
9	Outlaw Kate	Ch. F Exceed and Excel x She's Got Gears	L J Molloy	K1	$150,000	Ascot Farm	Phill Cataldo B/stock	$11,200
10	Peach Cove	B. F Buffalo Man x Tennisciti Belle	A J Brown	K3	$5,500	Totara Park Stud	NZB as agent	$9,875
11	Jacqueric	B. C Beneteau x Hey Pretty Katie	J G Symons & S Laxon	K2	$50,000	K. R. & A. J. Mahoney	JSL Racing	A$9,150
12	Gotham	B. G Onemorenomore x Krysia	J L McVean	K1	$65,000	Windsor Park Stud	McVean Racing	$8,800
13	Selfie	B. G Thewayyouare x Miss Brownie	R D Collett	K3	$40,000	Windsor Park Stud	Robt Dawe Agency	$8,175
14	Billy Mojo	B. C Mastercraftsman x British Dame	S B Marsh	K2	$60,000	Windsor Park Stud	Go Racing Ltd	$6,875
15	The Justice League	B. C I Am Invincible x L'Artiste	N W Tiley	K2	$50,000	Lyndhurst Farm	Nigel Tiley	$5,900

To view the full Order of Entry, click here.

The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on 25 January also features the $100,000 Karaka Million with current Group 1 New Zealand Derby favourite Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock) one of the high profile horses heading towards the race.

Any horse sold or passed in at a New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series is eligible to compete in the newly introduced $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup in 2015, which will be the second running of the race.

For more information on the Karaka Million Series, click here.

Merry Christmas

23 Dec 2014

Strong Karaka Million audition from first-starter Strata Lady - By Richard Edmunds

22 Dec 2014

The Karaka Million-bound Strata Lady (Craig Grylls) cruises away to a dominant debut win at Awapuni.

The Stratum filly burst out of the starting gates and took a clear lead early in the 1100-metre race, then was eased back slightly by Craig Grylls and was promptly pressured on the outside by Stacey Ann. But Strata Lady was unfazed and travelled beautifully under Grylls, who held her together until he unleashed her on the point of the home turn.

Strata Lady’s acceleration down the straight was too sharp for her rivals, carrying her three and a quarter lengths clear of Bella Court and Perfect Harmonee. She stopped the clock at 1:04.52.

“She was really professional today,” co-trainer Andrew Scott said. “She’s taken the trip south in so well. She was pressured in front but didn’t over-race, and then to put in the sort of kick she did after that was really to her credit. It’s an encouraging start to her career and it’s all onwards and upwards to bigger and better things from here.”

Scott also paid credit to the ride given to the filly by Grylls, who deflected all the credit on to his mount.

“She’s very smart,” he said. “She showed a lot in the trials, placing behind Rocanto and Windborne in her first one and then winning the second. She stood in the gates well today, got out quickly and did everything perfectly. The pressure came on and she came back under me, then kicked away from them. She’s a very nice filly.”

Punters were well aware of Strata Lady’s trial form and potential, sending her out as the $1.70 favourite in the six-horse field.

Bred by Letmar Investments, Strata Lady is a daughter of the twice-winning Octagonal mare Estermate. She is closely related to Group Two winner Astrodame, and the third dam is Gr. 1 Blue Diamond winner Midnight Fever.

Strata Lady was bought by Scott and Lance O’Sullivan’s Wexford Stables for $40,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale in January. She is eligible for the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on January 25, and following the $12,500 she picked up with today’s win she is safely in the field.

“It’s a relief to be in the race,” Scott said. “I’m not sure if we’ll run her again between now and then. We’ll see how she comes through this.”

O'Sullivan star Pure Champion sets sights on Thorndon - By Tim Barton

22 Dec 2014

Warwick Smith/Fairfax NZ

ALL CLASS: Matamata galloper Pure Champion, ridden by Craig Grylls, heads off the favourite Diademe in the Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni on Saturday.

Pure Champion is likely to be a late entry for next month's Thorndon Mile.

The $200,000 Trentham feature, on January 24, looks a logical target for the talented eight-year-old, who won the Group III Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

"We are not certain of his plans yet but will probably pay the late entry for the Thorndon," trainer and part-owner Lance O'Sullivan said yesterday.

Pure Champion's main summer target will be the weight-for-age Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 7 and he will need to have a race before then.

Both the Thorndon Mile and the Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham will be run under set weights and penalties this season, making them more attractive to the higher-rated horses.

Pure Champion would carry 58kg in the Thorndon, with no horse to have less than 53kg.

"It would mean another big trip to Wellington but he has proved that he doesn't mind travelling," O'Sullivan said.

Pure Champion has had only five starts in New Zealand but they have all been in the central districts, with three starts at Hastings and another at Trentham.

He has done the bulk of his racing in Hong Kong but raced in three countries as a three-year-old, when trained in Ireland. He contested the Jim Dandy Stakes in New York as a three-year-old, nine days after being runner-up in Group II company in Ireland, and won a listed race in Ireland less than three weeks after his New York assignment.

He was sold to Hong Kong for big money after a three-year-old campaign that also included a Group III win at the Curragh and a fourth in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Paul O'Sullivan, Lance's brother, sourced Pure Champion from Hong Kong, after the horse had been unplaced in each of his seven starts in his last campaign there.

"You never know with older horses if they are going to come up again, especially when they are still a stallion, but he has proved to be a pretty genuine racehorse," Lance said.

Pure Champion is now raced by O'Sullivan and his wife, Bridgette and O'Sullivan's parents, Dave and Marie.

The horse has won almost $200,000 in New Zealand and been a great source of pleasure for his new owners.

"I was going to come down to Awapuni but decided to stay home and watch the race at mum and dad's place," O'Sullivan said. "Mum hasn't been in the best of health and it was just great to go around there and watch it with them.

"They get excited if they win a maiden, let alone a good race."

The Challenge Stakes victory capped a good day for O'Sullivan and his training partner Andrew Scott.

The stable had only two runners on Saturday but it was enough to record a winning double at the premier meeting at Awapuni, with two-year-old Strata Lady making a winning debut.

Strata Lady had only five rivals but looked above average when winning easily, after setting the pace, and earning a start in the rich Karaka Million at Ellerslie on January 25.

"It was a great day," O'Sullivan said. "I know from experience that there are more bad ones than good ones."

However, the stable has made an excellent start to the season, with Saturday's double taking them to fifth-equal on the premiership, with 21 wins.

"We are chipping away," O'Sullivan said. "We have a nice team of racehorses and that's the first time for a while."

The partnership won 30 races last term but the stake earnings this season have already exceeded the return from the whole of the 2013-14 season.

"Most of our horses were winning on a Wednesday last year but they are competing at the weekends now and that's quite exciting," O'Sullivan said.

Wexford Stables, which was founded by Dave O'Sullivan, has a rich history but the horse numbers were well down when Lance rejoined Scott in partnership at the start of last season.

"We had no horses - numbers were in the 20's - and seriously contemplated shutting the stable down," Lance said. "But we decided to give it three years and see where we were then. But all you need is one flagbearer to turn things around."

The stable will be well represented at the Ellerslie Christmas carnival, with Whosyourmaster, Kaleidoscope, Fascination Street, Attention Seeker, Persuasive, Suffire and Link Road among the likely runners.

Whosyourmaster will contest the Group I Railway (1200m) on January 1 and Kaleidoscope will tackle the Group II Rich Hill Mile on the same day.

Whosyourmaster was unplaced in the Concorde at his last start but will be much better off at the weights in the Railway.

"He will run better in the Railway," O'Sullivan said. "He has been doing too well and we have had trouble getting the weight off him. I don't know if that he's good enough to win a Railway but I would put him among the top six chances."

Pins mare Kaleidoscope will be making her open class debut in the Rich Hill, after winning two successive rating 85 races, and will be a strong lightweight hope.

Persuasive, who has won two of her three starts this term, and the talented Fascination Street will run on Boxing Day and Attention Seeker and Suffire are being aimed at the Royal Stakes (2000m) on January 1.

Link Road, a Guillotine gelding, will make his debut in the two-year-old race on Friday. "We will be throwing him in the deep end but I do like him," O'Sullivan said.

- The Dominion Post

Speedy filly books Karaka Million berth - www.nzracing.co.nz

22 Dec 2014

A combination of natural talent and professionalism has booked Strata Lady a shot at the country’s biggest pot of racing gold next month.

The precocious youngster was sent out a dominant favourite in Saturday’s McEntee Event Hire 2YO Premier and she dispatched a small field with a minimum of fuss at Awapuni.

Strata Lady Photo - Race Images Palmerston North

“The Karaka Million is where she’s going and I’m sure she’s mature enough,” said co-trainer Andrew Scott, who prepares Strata Lady with Lance O’Sullivan at Matamata.

“It’s a really encouraging start to her career and it’s exciting to have her in the field.”

Strata Lady banked $12,500 for her connections from her debut victory to put her sixth in order of entry to the Listed $1 million dash at Ellerslie on January 25.

“She’s taken in everything so well and showed a kick,” Scott said. “It was a nice ride and Craig looked after her in the straight.

“She’s really professional and definitely going the right way – it was beautiful to watch.”

Strata Lady was first out of the gates to dispute the pace and she lengthened stride effortlessly when asked for a serious effort by Craig Grylls early in the run home.

“She’s very smart and showed a lot in her trials,” Grylls said. “She stood in the gates well, got out quickly and she did everything perfectly after that. She’s a very nice filly.”

Strata Lady had finished third behind the unbeaten duo of Rocanto and Windborne in her first trial at Te Awamutu and then won at Rotorua last month.

The filly has a pedigree to back her two-year-old claims as a daughter of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper winner Stratum and a direct female descendant of the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever. – NZ Racing Desk.

Grylls repays Wexford loyalty - www.nzracing.co.nz

22 Dec 2014

Craig Grylls was delighted to repay the faith shown in him by Pure Champion’s connections when he redeemed himself aboard the former Hong Kong galloper at Awapuni.

He successfully completed the transition from villain to hero on Saturday with a perfect ride to claim the Gr.3 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes.

Pure Champion Photo - Race Images Palmerston North

Grylls had been criticised for his performance aboard the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Pure Champion when well-beaten in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham earlier this month.

Former champion jockey O’Sullivan said it was a poor front-running ride, but he was confident the same mistakes wouldn’t be made at Awapuni and remained loyal to the 24-year-old.

Grylls settled Pure Champion outside the leader and when asked for another gear in the run home the Irish-bred eight-year-old proved superior.

“We sat down and went through the tapes and I’ve got to thank Wexford Stables,” Grylls said.

“They have supported me a lot and it’s good to repay them with a win like this.

“We got the drop on the leader and he had a good kick – the old boy dug really deeply.”

Pure Champion wore down the front-running favourite Diademe in the closing 150 metres with Ginner Hart giving an improved performance for third.

“We got him out of the birdcage early today to help settle him and get him in the right frame of mind,” Scott said. “It’s a great team effort and a really satisfying win.”

Pure Champion’s immediate future has yet to be confirmed with his owners, the O’Sullivan family, to have a round table discussion to formulate a plan.

Diademe was excellent in her first appearance since a lengthy injury-forced break while Ginner Hart’s effort was also pleasing after his below-par run when unplaced in the Listed Levin Stakes. – NZ Racing Desk.

Kiwi Becomes ‘Hong Kong Warrior’ - www.nzb.co.nz

15 Dec 2014

Star kiwi sprinter Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) dashed to Group 1 glory in the HK$18,500,000 The Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) last night at Sha Tin.

Aerovelocity (NZ) triumphant in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint. Photo courtesy of HKJC.

Aerovelocity is the first kiwi-bred horse to win the iconic Hong Kong Sprint, trained by former top New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan who is now based in Hong Kong.

“It was a fantastic run by Aerovelocity,” commented Paul O’Sullivan. “It is a tough race to win, he will be known as the ‘Hong Kong Warrior’ after this win.

“I haven’t planned passed the Hong Kong Sprint but I will look to race him in Dubai or Singapore. Although they are left handed tracks, it will be something to look forward to.”

After having no luck last start, rider Zac Purton took luck out of play as he went straight to the front on Aerovelocity. The son of Pins led throughout the race, resisting all challenges to win by a neck. Peniaphobia (Dandy Man) and Straight Girl (Fuji Kiseki) finished second and third respectively.

Wexford Stables trainer Andrew Scott prepared Aerovelocity in New Zealand where he raced as Naisoso Warrior. The son of Pins placed in all four of his trials and broke his maiden status in his first start. Nine months after his racing debut he was racing for Paul O’Sullivan in Hong Kong.

Sunday’s victory was Aerovelocity’s eighth win from 15 starts, having already won the HK-2 Premier Bowl and the HK-3 HKJC Sha Tin Vase. The six-year-old gelding has now earned a total of $2,928,189 for owner Daniel Yeung Ngai.

Trainer Paul O’Sullivan purchased him at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $120,000 from Windsor Park Stud.

Bred by Nelson Schick and Steve Till, Aerovelocity is out of winning mare Exodus (Kaapstad) who is a half-sister to Kapitain Kash (Kaapstad), winner of the Group 2 Counties Cup and Group 3 Rotorua Cup.

The Hong Kong International meeting attracts the best horses from around the world with kiwi gallopers acquitting themselves admirably. Along with Aerovelocity’s win, kiwis placed in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase with Khaya (NZ) (Librettist), and Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) finished third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.

Pure Champion up for Awapuni challenge - www.nzracing.co.nz

11 Dec 2014

Pure Champion will return to the Central Districts on Saturday week for the Gr.3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni.

The former Hong Kong galloper has taken no harm from his unplaced run last time out in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.

“He was only about two and a-half lengths from the winner after over doing things in front,” co-trainer Andrew Scott said. “We’re hoping he’ll improve rapidly.

“We’re also taking the two-year-old Strata Lady down there and looking forward to her racing. She won impressively at the Rotorua trials.”

Matamata trainers spread 3YO forces - www.nzracing.co.nz

11 Dec 2014

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will have fillies chasing black type at Awapuni on Saturday and three-year-olds at two other venues considered to be future stakes contenders.

Orange Peel and Attention Seeker will go head to head in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes while Suffire will strive to break her maiden at Tauranga on Friday and likewise Mary Quant at Ellerslie on Sunday.

Andrew Scott Photo - Tara Hughes

“The two fillies are going to Awapuni in good form and we’re happy with both of them,” Andrew Scott said.

“Saturday will give us a good guide as to whether they can run a bit further. They might have their work cut out to beat O’Marilyn if she’s back on her game, but our two are in good condition.

“Orange Peel is out of a Canny Lad mare, but she’s by Duke Of Marmalade and they can stay a bit. The way she ran the 1400 metres out last start indicated she’ll get a mile.

“Attention Seeker is by Fast ‘N’ Famous and her dam won the Australian Oaks so she’s got a pedigree to suggest she can stick on.”

Both fillies are last-start winners while Suffire looks on the verge of a breakthrough and she will get her chance in the Metalcraft Roofing 1600 at Tauranga on Friday.

“We were really pleased with her run at Te Rapa as she had to do a bit of work to get outside the leader,” Scott said.

Suffire is Group One nominated for both the TV3 NZ Derby and the Wellfield NZ Oaks, as is Mary Quant who is on the ballot at Tauranga, but in Sunday’s Lindsay Racing Mile at Ellerslie.

“If we can get them out of maidens we’ll be looking at the better races for both of them,” Scott said. – NZ Racing Desk.

Wexford Stables chasing feature double - www.nzracing.co.nz

05 Dec 2014

Matamata trainer Lance O'Sullivan is relishing having the firepower to play at the top level again.

The Hall of Fame jockey will produce contenders in feature races on Saturday with Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate winner Pure Champion tackling the Gr.1 $200,000 Wellington Rydges Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and Whosyourmaster contesting the Gr.3 $70,000 Lindauer Concorde Handicap (1200) at Ellerslie.

O'Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, expects a bold run from former Hong Kong galloper Pure Champion, who was freshened after failing in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings in October.

He trialled at Rotorua last week, going down a head in a 1230m open heat.

"I'm happy with him," O'Sullivan said. "It's different to last time. When he got off the plane he was light in condition and we just had to train him up.

“This time we've had to work him back to fitness. He did well in the short time he was out in the paddock and he'll probably parade a bit bigger in condition.

"He was probably working a little bit better going into Hastings, but that's probably more that he's used to the environment now and has relaxed a bit more, so we're not worried.

“He would probably have been better suited if it was over 1400m, but we've set him for this. It's a Group One race and we're hoping we've got it right on the day."

While the Captain Cook Stakes has attracted just a field of eight runners, six are Group One winners and most will progress to the Gr.1 $200,000 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

"Quite a few of those eight are more than capable of winning," said O'Sullivan, who has retained Craig Grylls to ride.

"There's a chance he'll be in the Zabeel Classic too. He failed running 2000m at Hastings, but he charged into the first corner and did a few things wrong, so we're happy to give him another chance at a mile and a-quarter."

O'Sullivan was expecting another typically honest run from stable sprint star Whosyourmaster.

Bred and raced by Danny and Judy Moss, who shared in the ownership of 2000 Concorde winner O'Malleys Boy, Whosyourmaster produced one of the runs of the race in the Listed Counties Bowl last start, dashing home late for fifth.

"That's just him. He keeps his form pretty consistent. He doesn't change much day to day, the old boy," O'Sullivan said of the six-year-old Captain Rio half-brother to Group One winner Keep The Peace.

"He's up in the weights and he'll need things to go his way, but he's capable if all the ducks line up in a row. He'll be better suited to the set weights and penalties conditions of the Railway Stakes and the Telegraph Handicap."

Teenage apprentice Rory Hutchings, who has had four rides on Whosyourmaster for two wins and two placings, returns to the saddle on Saturday.

Fascination Street, Fascinate Me, Prize Lad, Sound Proposition, Prince Bruno, Giardini, and Persuasive round out the runners for Wexford Stables this weekend. - NZ Racing Desk

Trainers Premiership - 2014-2015

28 Nov 2014

Wins 2nds 3rds Stakes Starts G & L SR

1 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 32 18 19 $647,485 170 2 5.31

2 Lisa Latta 26 29 36 $738,782 305 3 11.73

3 Graeme & Debbie Rogerson 26 20 16 $556,990 172 4 6.62

4 Jason Bridgman 22 22 12 $530,910 115 3 5.23

5 Kevin Myers 19 15 26 $385,150 166 0 8.74

6 Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott 16 10 12 $340,770 99 1 6.19

7 Stephen Marsh 16 10 6 $130,010 67 0 4.19

8 John & Karen Parsons 15 14 18 $251,280 111 0 7.4

9 Karen Zimmerman 15 9 8 $211,875 96 1 6.4

10 Donna & Dean Logan 12 14 11 $207,760 93 1 7.75

Kaleidoscope eyes rich Ellerslie prize - www.nzracing.co.nz

24 Nov 2014

A tilt at the one of the big prizes on offer at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day is the target for impressive Avondale winner Kaleidoscope after she downed a quality field of rating 85 gallopers on Saturday.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained mare dug deep to make it back to back victories after a torrid home straight tussle with race favourite Procurement to continue the recent winning roll of the Matamata stable.

Kaleidoscope downed a quality field of rating 85 gallopers at Avondale

Photo: Trish Dunell

“She has really come into her own this season now that she has learnt to relax in her races,” explained Scott.

“She used to want to rip and tear all the time and couldn’t really round her races off but at the end of her last preparation we finally got her to settle and that has made all the difference to her.

“It was a beautiful ride by Michael as he positioned nicely just off the leaders and she was very powerful in the run to the line when he asked her for the effort.

“We were a little worried about the 1400 metre trip on Saturday as she is really looking for more ground now but they ran along at good speed and that suited her nicely.”

The Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on the 1^st of January will now become the main target for the mare with Scott and O’Sullivan looking to give her one more start before tackling stakes company.

“We haven’t worked out just where she will run next but we will work back from the Rich Hill Mile to find something for her as she will need a run before then,” said Scott.

“She goes well at Ellerslie having won over the distance there before so hopefully she can make the field with a light weight as we think she can be competitive.”

The win by Kaleidoscope is the 13^th of the season for the partnership which places them in the top ten on the national trainer’s premiership ladder. – NZ Racing Desk

Lance is thinking of a career change..

18 Nov 2014

"I think Lance will need to grow to become a world class Rower"!

Trainers Premiership 2014/2015 Season

14 Nov 2014

	Wins	2nds	3rds	Stakes	Starts	G & L	SR
1	Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman	25	15	18	$571,010	145	2	5.8
2	Lisa Latta	23	26	33	$512,337	269	2	11.7
3	Graeme & Debbie Rogerson	21	19	13	$477,205	139	3	6.62
4	Jason Bridgman	21	19	12	$434,820	105	2	5
5	Kevin Myers	19	15	26	$378,950	161	0	8.47
6	John & Karen Parsons	13	14	17	$198,280	102	0	7.85
7	Stephen Marsh	13	5	3	$86,650	50	0	3.85
8	Karen Zimmerman	12	9	8	$187,325	86	1	7.17
9	Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott	12	7	11	$302,220	82	1	6.83
10	Donna & Dean Logan	11	12	8	$190,185	84	1	7.64

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