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Dark Destroyer all class in Bonecrusher Stakes

A downgrade in the Matamata track due to persistent rain on the day played right into the hands of local runner Dark Destroyer as the promising galloper delivered a gritty victory in the day’s feature event, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).Sent out a warm $2 favourite after the late scratching of his well-fancied stablemate Karman Line due to the downgrade from a Dead4 to a Slow8 track surface, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir showed plenty of ...

Bright future for Dark Destroyer

Progressive three-year-old Dark Destroyer got off the mark in fine style when winning a maiden over 1300m at Taupo on Wednesday.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding had caught the eye when charging home into third at his first start at Taupo last month, and punters duly supported him into even money favourite on Wednesday.Despite being moderately into stride, Dark Destroyer was able to eventually take up a forward position on inferior inside ground, before rider Sam Weatherly ...

Wet Track Specialist Extends Record at Rotorua

Aero De Paris continued his purple patch of form at Rotorua on Saturday when winning the RG & CM Donaldson Memorial 1215.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding has now won two of his four starts this preparation, and finished runner-up in his other two starts.His trainers were pleased with the win and said he has matured a lot since his last preparation, allowing the Matamata conditioners to utilise the claim of apprentice jockey Joe Kamaruddin.“It was his career best performa...

Aero De Paris provides welcome holiday boost

A stirring victory by handy winter sprinter Aero De Paris at Te Rapa on Saturday provided some additional holiday cheer for co-trainer Andrew Scott.Scott, who prepares the six-year-old son of Tavistock with training partner Lance O’Sullivan, is in the middle of a two-week South Island sojourn with his family but managed to find his way to a pub in Christchurch to watch the open 1200m contest.Aero De Paris relished the Heavy10 track conditions plus the three-kilogram weight relief provided by t...

Rocket Spade crowned Ellerslie's Horse of the Year

New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade has been crowned Ellerslie’s 2020/21 Horse of the Year.  Rocket Spade was purchased by team Wexford at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale for A$425,000, for loyal owners Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd. This year, Rocket Spade scored impressive wins in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas, with a placing against older horses in between races. Sent out as the favourite in the New Zealand Derby, Rocket Spade pro...

Princess Rihanna back to her best at Ellerslie

Consistent performer Princess Rihanna got a just reward on Saturday when she stormed to victory in an open 1100m contest at Ellerslie. The rising seven-year-old mare had finished an unlucky third at the venue in a similar event last month but snared the thick end of the prize this time, courtesy of a well-judged ride by apprentice Taiki Yanagida. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained daughter of Showcasing made her usual good beginning to sit handy to the pace before looking to issue h...

Charles Road Retired

Quality stayer Charles Road has been retired.The seven-year-old gelding acquitted himself well in Australasia’s staying features, headlined by his victory in the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick three years ago.Raced as Sir Charles Road in Australia, the son of Myboycharlie also placed in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m), and ran seventh in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).On home soil, he boasts victories in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Ma...

Force of will primed for Vinery

Group Three winner Force Of Will has arrived in Sydney ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly is still finding her feet after flying over to Sydney on Monday, but her connections are confident she will settle in well ahead of her weekend assignment. “She arrived yesterday evening. She went for a trot and canter this morning and she is sound,” O’Sullivan told SENtrack. “She didn’t eat a lot ...

Derby winner makes the most of Tauranga outing

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade provided his connections with the perfect dress rehearsal for his Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) challenge next month when he gave his age-group rivals a start and a beating over 1600m at Tauranga on Saturday. The last start Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner looked a picture of health as he paraded before the start and raced accordingly as he proved too classy in the closing stages of the contest. Rider Craig Grylls allowed the Fastnet Rock colt to amble a...

Sydney beckons New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade

Twenty-four hours on from winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Rocket Spade on Sunday, trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were basking in the glory of a job well done.The training duo quite rightly celebrated the blue riband victory with close friends and family in Matamata on Sunday night after leaving a strangely quiet Ellerslie, which conducted the feature meeting a day later than planned under COVID-19 alert level 2 conditions.“It was a really satisfying win and great ...

Rocket Spade wins thrilling New Zealand Derby

In a desperate three-way finish to the blue riband Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m), it was race favourite Rocket Spade who came out on top at the conclusion of a thrilling contest.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt had gone into the race off a strong performance to win the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) in his final lead-up to Sunday’s feature event at Ellerslie.That run had hinted the son of Fastnet Rock would thrive on the 2400m of the Derby and so it proved as rider...

Wexford eyeing Sydney with Force Of Will

A Sydney autumn raid could still be on the cards for exciting three-year-old filly Force Of Will. The daughter of Power was scratched from the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) earlier this month after trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott weren’t happy with the routine bloods taken from her a couple of days prior. They have been happy with the way she has bounced back and a trip across the Tasman to contest the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 27 is now being favoured ov...

Hermitage gunning for Derby redemption with Rocket Spade

For the second year running, Hermitage Thoroughbreds has a three-year-old with a huge chance to win the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m).Rocket Spade confirmed his spot at the head of the male classic crop with a tough victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m), hitting the line strongly to defeat Jason Belltree and On Display.In doing so, Rocket Spade followed the path of Dragon Leap, who like Rocket Spade had also won the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) on New Year’s Day.Both are ...

Rocket Spade cements Derby claims with Avondale Guineas victory

Well fancied Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) candidate Rocket Spade threw down the gauntlet to his three-year-old rivals when he produced a strong staying performance to capture the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt had entered Saturday’s vital Derby lead-up as the $4.50 second favourite for the blue riband event in a fortnight and strengthened his claims as he overcame a rocky run in midfield to storm home out wide and ...

Oaks reward looms for Force Of Will

Talented Matamata filly Force Of Will keeps raising the bar, so much so that another bold performance this weekend is likely to clinch her a start in a Group One race she hasn't even been nominated for. The Power filly will chase her fourth consecutive win when she tackles Saturday's Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa, having progressed from a maiden win through to last-start success in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Should she extend her winning sequence on S...

Te Rapa test for Derby favourite

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade is tackling older horses at Te Rapa on Wednesday as part of his preparation for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m). Rocket Spade, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata, is the favourite on the TAB futures market for the Derby following his victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. In previous years the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) was run on the first weekend of February, giving trainers with ...

Force Of Will too strong in Desert Gold Stakes

Matamata visitor Force Of Will carried on her winning way when she proved too strong for her rivals in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly travelled south to Trentham off the back of consecutive wins at Tauranga, including an eye-catching performance against the older horses over 1400m at her last start.Stepped up to the mile against her own age and sex this time, the Power filly travelled sweetly in midfiel...

SOLD - Almanzor Colt

The team are thrilled to have purchased Lot 298 - Almanzor (FR) – Caminadora (USA), Bay Colt. By a first season sire who has been selling incredibly well, out of a More Than Ready Mare, this cracking colt is athletic, a great walker and has a real sense of class about him. He had a spotless set of X-rays and was purchased to trade. He looks like he'll do the job as an Autumn 2YO. Secured for $130,000, we thought this was exceptional value for the quality of horse he is. Shares are available! ...

Shares Available - Beautiful Staying Filly

Introducing Lot 363 Contributer (IRE) – Due Diligence (NZ) bay filly, secured for $110,000 at the Karaka yearling sales. We purchased and trained her dam 'Due Diligence' (by Danasinga), who was a group 2 winner. This filly is a replica of her mother! She’s got a good mind, walks well and will be one for the Karaka Million Mile as a 3YO. She is a lovely mile/staying type of filly and looks like she will run a guineas trip. She vetted very clean. Shares are available in this lovely filly by a ...

SOLD - Cracking Trade Colt

A neat horse with great athleticism and a big walk (you know what they say - if they can walk, they can gallop!), he was purchased with trading in mind. He’s got some of the best bloodlines, with Fastnet Rock and Danehill on his pedigree page. Purchased for $100,000, he was incredibly good value for a Contributor in this sale. The stallion on the rise has proven to be very popular and $100,000 is on the lower end of the scale for what people are prepared to pay for a Contributor. He was purch...

SOLD - Vadamos Colt

By an up and coming stallion who has really impressed us, out of a young Commands mare that goes back to Galileo (the best sire in the world!) and Foxwood (one of New Zealand’s more prolific families) we were drawn to this colt's pedigree page. He’s a strong dark colour, with a big flat shoulder and an enormous walk. He’s from a top farm in Valachi Downs, where yearlings get the best possible start. He has clean X-rays and good scope. He looks like he’ll make a beautiful late 2YO. Secur...

Shares Available - Karaka Million Filly

Wexford have struck early at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yealing Sales! The team are thrilled to have secured lot 12 - Iffraaj x Oscar’s Shadow, brown filly for $70,000. From a fast family and by a leading 2YO sire, this filly will get up and run and will be aimed at the 2022 Karaka Million. With shares available, get in touch with the team for more info. Andrew - 0273602276Lance - 021488884Lisa Dunbar (office) - wexford@xtra.co.nz...

Rocket Spade delivers Guineas repeat

Owners Hermitage Thoroughbreds and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have gone back-to-back, scoring their second consecutive victory in the Gr.2 SkyCity Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on Friday.The combination captured last year’s edition of the three-year-old feature with Dragon Leap, and have struck Guineas gold again 12 months later with Rocket Spade.Making his first start since a close fifth behind Aegon in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in early ...

Asano quickly off the mark in northern stint

Leading South Island apprentice Kozzi Asano wasted no time in registering his first win for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when he guided Spring Heat (More Than Ready) to an impressive victory at Ellerslie on Saturday. Asano, who is indentured to trainer Andrew Carston at Riccarton, has moved north for a few months to spend time with Wexford Stables and to be mentored by O’Sullivan during that time.Runner-up in last season’s jockeys’ premiership with78 wins...

Summer Passage: From Retirement to Winner's Stall

Trainer Lance O’Sullivan was beaming after former top juvenile Summer Passage made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure at Matamata on Saturday, when striding clear in a rating 74 1200m contest. O’Sullivan, who prepares the Snitzel gelding in partnership with Andrew Scott, was brimming with confidence before the race having labelled the former top juvenile as a near certainty based on his recent trackwork and an impressive run over 1000m at the Rotorua trials last month. “We’re c...