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Wexford First Four at Matamata

It's not everyday you get a stable first four! Wexford did just that at Matamata on Wednesday with Ask Mum winning the fourth on the card by an impressive 3.5L, Cornwallis running into second, Rising Pacific third and Cours Vice fourth. Later in the day Neighbourhood stormed home to make it a double for the stable on our home track. The addition of blinkers had the desired outcome, with the Waikato Stud-bred and raced four-year-old finishing determinedly to triumph in a driving finish....

Asterix Admirable at Tauranga

Our 2022 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby winner Asterix returned to the winner's circle at Tauranga on Saturday. Running over a distance well short of his best (1600m), class prevailed with Asterix scoring comfortably in the hands of in form jockey Craig Zackey. Asterix, who races in the colours of Sam Kelt and is part-owned by former Black Caps cricketer Mark Greatbatch, stayed on strongly to beat La Crique and Regal Lion in the New Zealand Derby in what was just his fourth career start. ...

Two from Two for Wexford at Matamata

The team enjoyed the perfect day out at Matamata on Wednesday, picking up two winners from two races. In the hands of Jake Bayliss, Fabulous Gal justified her $2.30 favouritism to win the third on the card over 1600m. Breaking maidens at just her second start, the half sister to Sonofabutcher looks to have a bright future. Just over an hour later, Kingfisher combined with Tayla Mitchell to win race 5 over 1400m.  It was great to have owners Hugh Fletcher and Dame Sian Elias on-cou...

Derby treble on radar for O’Sullivan and Scott

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have saddled the last two winners of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and a pair of talented three-year-olds are putting a spring in the Matamata trainers’ step as they plot their path towards the 2023 edition. O’Sullivan and Scott won the Derby with Rocket Spade in 2021 and Asterix in 2022, and they have two runners among the top 10 in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for this year’s running at Te Rapa on March 4.Waitak, who was a fast-finishing second ...

Derby winner returns at Te Rapa

Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix returns to the races at Te Rapa on Saturday.The four-year-old will race for the first time since his Derby success in the open 1600m handicap after a long build-up necessitated by remedial work on his feet.Co-trainer Andrew Scott said there were no set plans for Asterix, other than to get him up over ground over late summer and autumn.“We’re just excited to have him back running,” said Scott, who trains Asterix along with Lance O’Sullivan und...

Satisfying victory for talented Dragon Leap

Relief was an over-riding emotion in the Dragon Leap camp following the six-year-old’s stunning performance at Pukekohe Park to end a lengthy winless streak. The son of Pierro put a frustrating barren spell behind him in style on Saturday when he powered home from well back in the field to score over 1200m and confirm plans for tilts at Group One assignments.Dragon Leap posted his first victory since he landed the 2020 Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) with a withering finishing burst to claim the...

Impressive Waitak swoops on Eagle Memorial

A storming late run by powerfully built three-year-old Waitak continued the latest run of success for his sire Proisir as he captured the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa.Placed at Group One level as a two-year-old when prepared by Peter and Dawn Williams, Waitak was having just his second run for the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott team on Saturday.Rider Craig Zackey, who is also enjoying a purple patch of form since relocating to New Zealand from South African at ...

Feature double on Dragon Leap’s radar

Major summer sprint targets lie in wait for the talented Dragon Leap, who will head south this week to kick off a new preparation.The lightly raced six-year-old is making all the right moves ahead of his resuming run in the Gr.3 Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Thursday.Underfoot conditions may not be entirely to the son of Pierro’s liking, but connections are keen for the gelding to take his chances.“We’re really pleased with him and he will run even if the track is wet because we want to...

Meet The Team - Keith Lunn

A respected figure in the thoroughbred industry, Keith Lunn has long been associated with the racing game. A bloodstock manager for the past 45 years, Keith has also tried his hand in ownership and enjoyed some great success along the way (spoiler alert: Keith has been involved in a New Zealand Cup winning horse!).  We sat down with Keith to learn a little more about his background in racing and present involvement...  How did you first get involved in the racing industry? My involveme...

Meet The Team - Linda Burton

Having worked with horses from a young age, Linda Burton is an experienced horse woman with an abundance of knowledge under her belt. A familiar face around the tracks, Linda has been a part of the industry for many years.  With experience in all facets of the thoroughbred industry, Linda has been a fantastic addition to our team. She gets great enjoyment from seeing the Wexford horses perform and plays an important role in getting them to the races in tip top shape!  With a career spa...

Future looking bright for Asterix

Wexford Stables were excited to see Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Asterix back at the trials at his home track of Matamata on Thursday. The Tavistock gelding went under foot reconstruction surgery following his Derby victory in March and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been pleased with the way he has returned following lengthy rehabilitation.“It was really good getting him back to the trials,” O’Sullivan said.“It has been a long time off the scene, so it is good ...

Meet The Team - Sarah Swinburne

An avid hunter and passionate horse woman, Sarah Swinburne, has been a welcome addition to the team at Wexford Stables. A diligent and friendly worker, she is vital in keeping the cogs well-oiled on the ground on the busy mornings. With a great attention to detail, she is competent in caring for horses to the highest standard, as is the Wexford way. At only 16 years of age, she has a great deal of maturity and we are delighted to welcome her aboard! Sarah gives us some background on her journey ...

Meet The Team - Brooke Carter

As a competitive show jumper and with a family background in racing, Brooke Carter has immersed herself in the equine industry from a young age. With her own team of horses, she manages to balance both her work at the stables whilst also developing and competing her team of show jumpers. Her passion for horses led her to the racing industry and more recently, to Wexford Stables. Another new face in the barn, she has slotted in well to the morning crew and contributes to the smooth running of the...

Meet The Team - Michelle Dando

As the new Administration Specialist for Wexford Stables, Michelle Dando, has dived into the role headfirst. Fitting into the team seamlessly, she has already stamped her mark in the office.  Always ready to offer a warm welcome to the stable, we are delighted to have Michelle on board and look forward to having her as part of the team ahead of what should be an exciting season. With a background in breeding, we learn about her special connection to Dark Destroyer and what horse has made an...

Meet The Team - Caitlin O'Sullivan

The O'Sullivan name has long been synonymous with New Zealand Racing - Caitlin O'Sullivan was destined to play a role in the industry. A hard worker with meticulous attention to detail, she plays an integral role behind the scenes.  With a passion for both racing and the marketing and media industry, Caitlin puts her talents to use through her management of the stable's marketing, work with LOVERACING.NZ and her own digital marketing business, Miss Digital.  How did you first get...

Dark Destroyer ruled out of Arrowfield Stud Plate

- Article by NZ Racing DeskThe hopes of securing the Hastings triple crown with Dark Destroyer this year are now over. The connections of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner have decided to play it safe with their gelding and have given him a break following an elevated temperature following his victory on a Heavy10 track. “He won’t be heading to the Arrowfield (Stud Plate, 1600m),” said Andrew Scott, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “He just had a ...

Stable on trail of Group One double

Wexford Stables are hoping to continue their Group One winning run with Dragon Leap who contests the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. The training partnership celebrated a significant early domestic strike when Dark Destroyer claimed the major prize on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival and his stablemate is doing everything asked of him across the Tasman.Dark Destroyer rounded off strongly for a first-up win in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) last weekend and...

Dark Destroyer dominant in Group One victory

Dark Destroyer, one of last season’s top three-year-olds showed he has come back as a spring four-year-old in fine fettle as he produced a resolute finish to take out the first Group One of the New Zealand season, the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir hadn’t been seen since completing a successful campaign in Brisbane during the winter where he took out the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2143m) before finishing an unlucky fourth ...

Meet The Team - Lauren Russo

Strapping, client communications, social media, photography - a woman of many talents, Lauren Russo does it all!  With an unwavering love of horses, passion for the industry and always-positive attitude, Lauren is an asset to our team, not only with the horses but also with our valued owners.  A series usually written by Lauren herself, we enjoyed reversing roles and asking Lauren her own questions as part of our 'Meet the team' segment.  How did you first get involved in the raci...

Dark Destroyer heading towards Tarzino

Australia is something Wexford is contemplating with dual Group Two winner Dark Destroyer, however, his imminent targets lie in his homeland. “We will take it one race at a time with him. He is going to have a trial (at Taupo) on Wednesday,” Scott said. “David and Dianne (Archer, owners) were quite keen to run him at Hastings in the first race (Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy, 1400m) and then look to options from there. “It looks to be a good kick-off point which keeps him closer to home in this ear...

Memsie option for Dragon Leap

There is a strong chance the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Dragon Leap will be seen in action at Caulfield rather than Te Rapa this weekend, with the highly-talented six-year-old amongst the 20-strong nominations for the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. With wet weather forecast in the lead-up to the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, where the track is currently heavy, the Matamata conditioners are keeping their options open. The son of Pierro made an imp...

Meet The Team - Mark Gage-Brown

As one of the longest standing staff members at Wexford Stables, Mark Gage-Brown has been a part of the furniture for the past sixteen years! A reliable, hard-working and well-loved member of the team, he is considered by all the staff as an absolute legend. Keeping the ball rolling on the ground, Mark manages the day-to-day maintenance of the stables. Affectionately referred to as 'Uncle Mark', he has seen the development and growth of Wexford and many horses pass through the barn. Never one to...

Australia beckons smart Karman Line

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are keen to give their promising filly Karman Line the opportunity to impress in Australia later this year.The Matamata trainers are eyeing a Sydney campaign for the lightly tried daughter of Myboycharlie, who shaped up well in good company before a spell.The stakes-placed rising four-year-old is back in work and making good progress toward her spring return.“We would like to get Karman Line to Australia and there are one or two other hopefuls, but we certai...

Meet The Team - Emily Farr

A naturally gifted rider, with oodles of talent and determination, Emily Farr has been an asset to the team at Wexford. Bringing an abundance of knowledge and riding experience, within a short space of time Emily has already cemented her place within the stable. Her ability to ride horses of any kind or temperament is invaluable and she has a special affinity with the horses she is partnered with. With a passion for jumping and raceday riding, her career as a Jumps Jockey means she has her fair ...

Meet The Team - Jaffer Mohammed

As part of our fantastic team of trackwork riders at Wexford Stables, Jaffer Mohammed joined the crew in 2019. As strapper of 2021 Group One Derby winner Asterix, his excellent horse handling skills came into play and under the pressure of the Derby environment, he was able to strap the horse calmly and with great expertise.  Never one to miss a photo opportunity, you will see plenty of photos of Jaffer and his favorite horses across social media, showcasing his love and dedication for the ...