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Te Rapa Runners - 25/9

We're heading to Te Rapa Racing tomorrow, with two horses lining up. The track is currently graded as a dead 5 and rail is out 8m. DIVINE DUKE (pictured) (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 2) will kick off our day in the first on the card, set to run at 12.32pm. We're very happy with his condition and recent performances. He needs rain to show his best and if it comes, he will be hard to beat. ROCKIN ROBIN (Craig Grylls, barrier 3) will line up in race 3 at 1.42pm. She has drawn to get a nice run in wha...

Pukekohe Park Runners - 22/9

We're spending our Sunday at Pukekohe Park today, with three Wexford horses heading north. The track is currently graded as a slow 8, rail is in the true position and fine conditions are expected. STAR TREASURE (Sam Spratt, barrier 2) will line up in race 3 at 1.38pm. He has drawn to get a nice run. The team are very happy with his condition and believe he'll be competitive in a small field. AUTUMN FLASH (pictured) (Craig Grylls, barrier 8 ) will step out in race 4 at 2.13pm. This will be his ...

Sir Charles Road racing at Randwick today

Our attention will be over the ditch today with SIR CHARLES ROAD Wexford's sole runner for the day, lining up in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes at Royal Randwick, set to run at 6.35pm NZT. Andrew Adkins will take the reins and he will jump from barrier 2. 'Charlie' is now starting to get up to a distance that will suit him more. He looks very bright and is well within himself. After his luckless run last start, we're hoping he can get a better trip from the 2 barrier and be figuring in ...

Sir Charles Road set to relish step up in Distance

A return to middle distance racing has Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott confident that Charles Road can produce an improved performance two weeks out from his main Sydney spring target.Myboycharlie six-year-old Charles Road, who races as Sir Charles Road in Australia, steps up to 2000m in Saturday’s Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick after unplaced runs over shorter distances in his lead-up races.Charles Road produced an eye-catching run for seventh resuming in Sydney o...

Taupo Runners - 20/9

The truck is heading south to Racing Taupo tomorrow, with 3 horses on board. As of 10pm the night before the meeting, the track is graded as a dead 4 and rail is in the true position. TWO MADDISON (Sam Spratt, barrier 12) will kick off our day in race 3 at 1.07pm. Today is her first time to the races in some time. She's had one trial to prepare and will take good improvement from the run today. She has worked well and the team is confident she'll improve on her form from last prep. WILD SEAS (p...

Matamata Runners - 18/9

Home track racing today! The track is currently graded as a slow 7 and rail is out 7m.PATCH MAN and TWO MADDISON will kick off our day in race 3 at 1.42pm.PATCH MAN (pictured) (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 14) has played the bridesmaid in his last two starts at Matamata and we're hoping he can go one better today. He does meet a better track but is heading into today fit and well.TWO MADDISON (B2, barrier 9) has been scratched.JOHNNIE REDMOND (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 7) will line up in race 4 at 2.17...

Randwick & Ellerslie Runners - 7/9

DIVINE DUKE (Ashvin Goindasamy, barrier 4) is our sole runner at Ellerslie today, lining up in race 9 at 4.18pm. We were initially disappointed with his run at Matamata last start, however upon reviewing it we believe it had a lot of merit. The heavy 11 track will suit nicely and despite carrying a rather tough 61kg, he will be aided by Ashvin's 3kg claim. The team are very happy with 'The Duke' heading into today and expect him to run well. SIR CHARLES ROAD (Andrew Adkins, barrier 3) will line ...

Te Rapa Runners - 6/9

We're heading to Te Rapa Racing today with three horses on the truck. The track is currently graded as a slow 8 and rail is out 8m.ONE MADISON (Opie Bosson, barrier 6) will kick our day off in race 3 at 1.52pm. She was impressive on debut before struggling last start. Stepping up to 1400m appeals.TWEEDLEDEE (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 2) will line up in race 7 at 4.17pm. We were very pleased with his performance last start when second at Te Rapa in against a rating 82 field. Going back to...

Matamata Runners - 28/8

As of 9am on raceday morning, the track is graded as a heavy 10 and rail is out 6m.  JOHNIE REDMOND (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 6) will kick off our day in race 5 at 2.17pm. He is back going left handed today, which will suit him well after failing to perform at Counties last start. Back to the 1200m appeals and he should handle today's very testing conditions. As with all of our runners today, will have the home track advantage on his side. PATCH MAN (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 3) will line up i...

Charles sets off on road to the Cup

Lance O'Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, is delighted with Charles Road's progress ahead of the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m) at Randwick's Kensington track but doesn't expect him to trouble the main chances in a race well short of his best distance."Andrew and I are really pleased with him. He's probably carrying a little more condition than he normally would be going into his first-up run but it's come around pretty soon and to be getting the show on the road, we have t...

Pukekohe Park Runners - 10/8

The Wexford truck is heading north to Pukekohe Park today, with four horses onboard. The track is currently graded as a heavy 11 and rail is in the true position.  DIVINE DUKE and TWEEDLEDEE will kick our day off in race 2 at 12.15pm. DIVINE DUKE (pictured) (Joe Kamaruddin, barrier 9) is backing up after racing only seven days ago at Te Rapa Racing. He drops in class but is up in weight and will be assisted by the 4kg claimer 'Smoking Joe.' He always takes a conside...

Te Rapa Runners - 3/8

The track is currently graded as a heavy 10 and rail is out 10m. BECAUSE (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 14) will kick off our day in race 4 at 1.52pm. He was disadvantaged by a slipped saddle last time out when 4th at Matamata, 24/7. He likes Te Rapa and gets on well with Taiki. He has continued to train on well and we're confident of a good performance.  TWEEDLEDEE (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 8) will line up in race 5 at 2.29pm. He has failed to put in a good performance at Te Rapa in the past...

Wexford Way Back: Visions and the 1993 Auckland Cup

As a jockey, Lance always had the ability to visualise a race before it was run. This second sight had reached a stage where, in major races, he would ride the race over in his head a dozen times before he went out on race day. "I'll look inwards and say to myself, 'OK, I've jumped well, i'm in front, what's second, what's third, what's fourth?' or 'OK, I didn't jump well, i've positioned myself back at eleventh. Who's in front of me, who's outside me and who's directly behind.' Such vision...

Charles Road set for Sydney Spring Campaign

Class stayer (Sir) Charles Road flew to Sydney over the weekend as he prepares to kick off a spring campaign that will hopefully culminate in a tilt at the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November.Prepared by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the rising six-year-old will forego the nominations he held for the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) during the Hastings Spring Carnival in favour of his Australian mission that will commence over 1400m at Randwick on August...

Matamata Runners - 24/7

The track is currently graded as a heavy 10 and rail is in the true position.BECAUSE (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 9) will line up in race 1 at 12.30pm. He just missed last start when running second at Te Rapa 6/7 and meets a weaker field today. The ground will be heavier than last start but if he handles conditions, he’ll be very competitive again.WISDOM PATCH (Taiki Yanagida, barrier 5) will line up in race 5 at 2.54pm. It was a strong effort last start at Rotorua, 26/6 and has continued to hold ...

Paul O'Sullivan successfully rounding off HK season

Paul O’Sullivan is following his stable’s fortunes over the final few racedays in Hong Kong during his annual fortnight visit back home to Matamata. A win at Sha Tin on Sunday by Wayfoong Charmer (by Dream Ahead), has taken O’Sullivan’s tally for the season to 25 wins and almost HK$32 million (NZ$6.1 million) in prizemoney and there’s the prospect of more success by the conclusion of the final day of the Hong Kong season next Sunday. “It’s been another successful season a...

Broodmare’s unretirement works wonders for Pencarrow

Article by NZ Racing DeskPencarrow Stud’s decision to bring a broodmare out of retirement has been spectacularly rewarded by the dual black-type winner Sleeping Beauty.  The Rip Van Winkle six-year-old mastered the gruelling conditions for a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Ultimate Ford and Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m), having also taken out the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at her previous start. Sleeping Beauty is the tenth and final foal out of the Danehill mare Kailey Pri...

Arawa Park Runners - 26/6

A busy day ahead for team Wexford, with 8 horses heading to Arawa Park - Rotorua Racecourse. The track is currently graded as a heavy 11.JOHNNIE REDMOND (Shaun Mckay, barrier 10) will kick our day off in the first race on the card at 11.57pm. He wanted to do a lot wrong last preparation but has enjoyed a short break and has improved in his trackwork. His trial at Taupo was encouraging and he looks fit and forward heading into today. There's no reason he can't race well in a fresh state...

Sleeping Beauty takes out Tauranga Classic

Class performer Sleeping Beauty underlined her credentials on the deep winter tracks when she out-toughed her female rivals to take out the Listed Ultimate Ford and Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m) under weight-for-age conditions at Tauranga on Saturday. The six-year-old Rip Van Winkle mare has fashioned an impeccable record on wet tracks having now won five of her ten starts, along with a further three placings on tracks rated in the Heavy range.Faced with a puggy Heavy11 surface, the Lance O’S...

Wexford Way Back: Waverley Star arrives at Wexford

Waverley Star was half human. For the third consecutive morning, the chestnut had cantered around the training paddock at Wexford five times (one lap was approximately 300m and most horses did 7 laps), before slamming on the breaks with such force that Lance had almost fallen off, doing a u-turn and heading for home. Paul was in such disbelief that he insisted on riding the 2 year old himself the following morning. Paul stopped after four circuits, thinking that with a small break he might be ab...

No winter hibernation for Sleeping Beauty

Wexford Stables has a small winter team in work but is hoping classy mare Sleeping Beauty can add to her black-type portfolio over the coming months, with the potential to target a Group One early in the new season.  The six-year-old daughter of Rip Van Winkle has won nine of her 22 starts, including her most recent start in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) on May 11.  Despite a gap between runs, O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, is expecting a good sh...

One Maddison wins on debut

One Maddison made an impressive raceday debut today, taking out the maiden 1200m at Te Teko.  Jockey Sam Spratt had the 4YO mare back in the field before she let down impressively to win comfortably by 1 3/4 lengths.  The mare has demanded patience, after showing ability at the trials as a 2 and 3 YO but never making it to the races due to immaturity issues. ...

Wexford Way Back: Dave's first racedays as a trainer

Wexford Stables has a long history, beginning with Dave O'Sullivan in 1961. Over the years, our stable has enjoyed many weird and wonderful moments and we thought we'd bring a few of those stories back with 'The Wexford Wind Back.' We hope you enjoy these small snippets of our history! We'll start at the beginning - Dave's first days as a horse trainer.  Dave's opening raceday was fittingly at Matamata in 1961. He had one starter, Poetic Justice. Before the race could start, ...

Star Treasure wins at Te Rapa

After knocking on the door for some time, Star Treasure got the job done at Te Rapa, winning the Rating 72 Benchmark 1200m ($25,000) comfortably by just under 3 1/2 lengths.  The Lonhro gelding was rated beautifully by jockey Sam Spratt, leading the entire way before kicking clear at the top of the straight.  He relished in the slow 9 conditions and we are sure that there will be plenty more success heading his way this winter.  Watch the race here. ...

Taiki on the Road to Recovery

Our stable apprentice Taiki Yanagida had an unfortunate trackwork accident two months ago, which resulted in him sustaining two small fractures in his foot.  We are pleased to report that Taiki is recovering well and is expected to be back riding in around three weeks time. Taiki is most excited to partner again with Divine Duke, with the pair winning an impressive hat-trick together last season.  We wish Taiki the best of luck in his recovery and eagerly await his return! ...