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Wexford readies for Australian attack

Two of Wexford Stables’ star gallopers have taken the next step towards respective Australian features in the coming weeks.Glamour filly Molly Bloom appeared at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday ahead of a tilt at the upcoming Queensland Carnival, and was under a strong hold by Masa Hashizume throughout the 1300m heat, finishing a narrow second.“We were really pleased with her. She was a bit above herself in the parade, being away from the races for a while, but a very quiet trial will bring he...

Grande Gallo back on top at Tauranga

Grande Gallo has competed among the best of the country’s three-year-olds this season, and the talented filly proved too strong when stepping out of stakes company at Tauranga on Saturday.The daughter of Belardo broke maiden status stylishly at the Bay Of Plenty course in November, earning a trip south for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), where glamour stablemate Molly Bloom triumphed.Grande Gallo returned to the winner’s circle in MAAT company on New Year’s Day, taking a clear s...

Major prize for Grail Seeker at Trentham

Australian hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor has made his first visit to New Zealand a memorable one by guiding promising filly Grail Seeker to a hollow victory in the Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham. The Queensland-based rider struck up a friendship with trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when he rode trackwork for the pair during the Queensland winter carnival last year, and was quick to take up an invitation to ride members of their team at Trentham including the ...

Wexford heading out west with Waitak

Wexford Stables will break new ground next month with their Group One-winning sprinter Waitak heading to Western Australia.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir has been confirmed as the slot runner for New Zealand’s Trackside Media and host club Perth Racing in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth.Trackside is the media and broadcast arm of the TAB, which Entain Australia and New Zealand operates under a 25-year strategic partnering agreement.The inaugural 2023...

Wexford Secures Slot in The NZB Kiwi

Wexford Stables have secured their slot in the Southern Hemisphere's richest 3YO race for the next three years - The NZB Kiwi. Set to the place on Saturday 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse, the inaugural running will see $3.5 million in stakes up for grabs, before increasing to $4 million in 2026 and $4.5 million in 2027. There is also an additional $1 million in bonuses for the first three place getters, should they win one of the bonus qualifying lead-up races. â€œAndrew, Pa...

Sentimental victory for Karman Line in Lisa Chittick Plate

It was hard to think of a more fitting victory on Saturday than when Karman Line dashed home out wide to take out the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m).The race is named in honour of the late Lisa Chittick (nee O’Sullivan), the sister of former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan who now trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, with the pair producing the five-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie from their Matamata-based Wexford Stables operation.Carrying the well-known yellow and blue Wexford colours,...

Fromer Derby winner claims Avondale Cup

Talented stayer Asterix returned to the scene of his greatest triumph when he stormed home to take out the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie.The injury-plagued son of Tavistock took out the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) but a string issues had hampered his progress since then.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and his ownership group, that includes former New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch, have shown infinite patience with the now five-yea...

Kingfisher swoops to victory at Te Rapa

Progressive intermediate galloper Kingfisher bounced back to winning form with an impressive victory in Rating75 company over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.Sporting the famous Fletcher tartan colours carried with distinction by horses of the calibre of triple Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) winner Mr Tiz, the four-year-old son of Savabeel was having his third run in a summer campaign following an initial preparation that yielded three wins from just eight starts.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andr...

Molly Bloom signs off on a high

If Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa was the final New Zealand appearance for Molly Bloom, the Group One-winning filly farewelled her homeland on a high.The daughter of Ace High established herself as one of the standouts of her generation in the late spring, scoring scintillating victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).Molly Bloom’s winning sequence was interrupted in last month’s Karaka Mi...

Divine intervention brings further Group One success

Group One-winning sprinter Waitak is continuing a proud and successful association between veteran breeder and owner Colin Devine and the O’Sullivan family.Waitak produced a stunning performance to claim top honours in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe for Devine and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on New Year’s Day, and they are hoping to continue that success at Te Rapa next month.“He’ll run next in the BCD Sprint (G1, 1400m), it will be a space between runs but he wonâ...

Grand victory for Wexford filly at Pukekohe

Stakes targets could be in the offing for promising filly Grande Gallo following her eye-catching win in the Eagle Technology 1500 at Pukekohe on Monday.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew-Scott trained three-year-old was having her first run since running in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November and relished returning to the right-handed way of going at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.The daughter of Belardo settled off the pace for jockey Warren Kennedy, who wasn’t co...

Wexford win Railway with Waitak

Former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan captured five Gr.1 Railway (1200m) successes in the saddle and on Monday he finally got his hands on the silverware as a trainer, courtesy of Waitak’s explosive victory in the Sistema-sponsored feature.As expected, Johny Johny set a breakneck speed upfront, while at the opposite end of the field, in-form hoop Warren Kennedy switched Waitak off at the back of the pack.The son of Proisir was still well off the pace at the top of the straight, but he resp...

Molly blooms in Eight Carat Classic

Visiting Australian rider Blake Shinn made good use of his trip across the Tasman to ride at Pukekohe on Boxing Day as he guided Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom to a nail-biting victory in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained daughter of Ace High had been unsighted since her victory at Riccarton last month and she gave her supporters, who backed her into a $1.60 favourite for the race, plenty of anxious moment...

Asterix to commence Cup journey at Te Rapa

A huge festive period of racing awaits Wexford Stables, and Christmas has come early for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with the exciting return of Asterix headlining their team on Saturday at Te Rapa.The son of Tavistock made waves in claiming the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in his fourth raceday appearance last March, and despite battling hoof and lameness issues since, has recorded another Open-class victory and a fourth behind Prowess in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher Stakes (2050m).Coming off...

Waitak opens new campaign with Te Rapa victory

Waitak, one of last season’s well performed three-year-olds made a powerful statement at Te Rapa on Saturday when he opened his summer campaign with a comfortable victory.After finishing third in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old, Waitak went on to win the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1400m) before finishing second in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and a meritorious fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at three.The powerfully buil...

Wexford seeking Group glory at Te Rapa

Emphatic last-start winner Grail Seeker will lead the Wexford Stables charge at Te Rapa on Saturday where she will step into stakes company, contesting the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m).The daughter of Iffraaj showed promise early in her first two raceday appearances and justified her $2 favouritism last start when cruising home by 4-1/2 lengths under little encouragement from Niranjan Parmar, who retains the ride on Saturday.“We’re confident she’ll run the trip a...

Molly Bloom breathtaking in 1000 Guineas

There has always been a hint of something special about Molly Bloom, and that obvious potential turned into breathtaking Group One brilliance in Saturday’s Barneswood Farm 51st New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott had been working backwards from the $500,000 fillies’ classic with Molly Bloom ever since her eye-catching third placing in her only two-year-old appearance in April.The spring campaign has been far from smooth sai...

Uderzo opens new campaign in style

Progressive galloper Uderzo made the best possible start to a new campaign when he powered through the heavy underfoot conditions at Tauranga to claim a comfortable victory in the Tauranga Hardware Plumbing Handicap (1200m).Carrying topweight of 59.5kgs, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding had warmed up for his season opener with a handy effort for second behind quality sprinting mare Babylon Berlin over 900m at the Te Rapa trials last month.Rider Masa Hashizume had the son o...

Wexford three-year-olds shine at Taupo

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott aren’t short of talented three-year-olds in their stable this season, and Geriatrix looks to be another promising type after breaking his maiden impressively at Taupo on Wednesday.  The Almanzor gelding was near the tail of the field from the jump in a competitive Placemakers Rotorua Maiden 3YO (1300m) event, jockey Warren Kennedy eventually settling him midfield and took to the extreme outside turning for home in a similar position.Race-favourite ...

Molly Bloom bursts into Guineas contention

A super-impressive return to racing at Taupo on Friday has thrust Molly Bloom into equal favouritism for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly by Ace High made only one start as an autumn two-year-old, producing an eye-catching finish for third behind Just A Floozie and Orchestral at Avondale on Anzac Day.She carried a burgeoning reputation into the new season, rising to $8 second favouritism for the 1000 Guineas before she had even set f...

Dragon scorches his rivals in Foxbridge

Punters got it spot on in the feature event at Te Rapa on Saturday, as favourite Dragon Leap defeated second elect Skew Wiff in a thrilling finish to the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m).The Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained seven-year-old had looked to be peaking nicely after he boomed home to take an Open 1100m contest at Ruakaka earlier in the month, and took plenty of late money to close as the $3 favourite.Jockey Warren Kennedy had him nicely situated in midfield as El Venc...

Dragon Leap locks in Foxbridge Plate

Wexford Stables have locked in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) as Dragon Leap’s next major target following his convincing win at Ruakaka on Saturday.The seven-year-old gelding was first-up in the 9 Sep Alibaba’s Flying Carpets KeriKeri (1100m), with his spring plans resting on the outcome.Despite his 62kg impost, punters backed him into $1.70 favouritism and he did not disappoint, running out a three-length victor.Dragon Leap was returning from a three start Queensland Winter campaign, whi...

Sonofabutcher Provides Perfect Start

Sonofabutcher provided Wexford with the perfect start to the new season, winning at Cambridge Jockey Club on Wednesday. Ridden by Joe Doyle, the pair sat midfield before picking a path through runners to score comfortably in the $17,000 Rating 65 Benchmark* 1550m event.Sonofabutcher was Wexford's first runner for the new season, and sole runner for the opening race meeting....

Wexford End Season on Winning Note

Highlighter produced the perfect end to the 2022/23 season for Wexford Stables, winning at Te Rapa on the final meeting of the season. Ridden by Joe Doyle, Highlighter raced handy throughout the Rating 75 Benchmark 1200m event, before kicking away to score the $30,000 prize.Highlighter ran the quickest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race.Wexford finishes the season with 32 domestic wins, 2 Australian victories, 1 Group One triumph and over $1.2 million in stakes won....

Dragon Leap thriving ahead of Wayne Wilson

Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are hoping to pick up a consolation prize this weekend with their two-pronged attack on the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.The stable presented quality gallopers Dragon Leap and Dark Destroyer in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben last month, a ballot exempt race for Saturday’s A$3 million Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), with Dragon Leap narrowly beaten into second.As third emergency, Dragon Leap is unlikely to ...