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Wexford Purchase Collects Bonus

Panther made an impressive return to racing in the $18,500 New World Te Puke NZB Mega Maiden (1200m) at Tauranga on Friday and in doing so picked up a NZB Mega Maiden Series bonus of $25,000 for connections. Panther was a $280,000 yearling purchase by Wexford Stables from Rich Hill Stud's Karaka 2024 draft. His promising two-start career has produced a win and a placing and $16,835 in stakes, which more than doubles when the $25,000 Mega Maiden bonus is taken into accoun...

Ohope Wins bolts home in Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes

Promising staying filly Ohope Wins chose the best possible moment to break her maiden status when she powered home to take out the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park had caught the eye when powering home late to finish second over 1600m at Te Rapa a fortnight ago and was one of the most discussed candidates in the lead-up to the traditional New Year’s Day age-group feature.Team Wexford...

Lux Libertas wins Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge

Lux Libertas was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect.She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room at the top of the straight.Race favourite Marotiri Molly kicked clear at the turn, but Lux Libertas took chase and was able to slowly wear down the pacemaker in the concluding s...

Smart's An Understatement

Untapped four-year-old Smart Love continued her stunning rise through the grades with a dominant display in the opener at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.The daughter of Savabeel had been unbeaten in her last three starts, one of those coming at the end of a brief three-year-old campaign and the latter pair this preparation.Smart Love earned red-hot $1.40 favouritism in the Majestic Horse Floats 1300 and justified that price, aided by a perfect steer from regular rider Masa Hashizume. She jumped posit...

Stunning Waitak leaves Livamol rivals in his wake

Waitak was a class above his rivals in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, completing a spring Group One double in the early stages of what might be a career-defining season.The son of Proisir has been a Group One horse since his two-year-old days, when he ran third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April of 2022. He went on to be a Listed winner at three, along with placings in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and a fift...

Harness maestro has weekend to remember

Harness Racing legend Barry Purdon had a weekend to remember. On Friday he made a winning return to the sulky, following a six-year hiatus, when piloting Group One-performing trotter Higher Power to victory at Alexandra Park, and on Sunday, his famous silks were to the fore once again, but this time in the thoroughbred code, when his exciting galloper Yamato Satona scored on debut in the opening race at Arawa Park for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. Purdon was trackside i...

Powerful debutant kicks off Wexford treble

Promising colt Yamato Satona made an impressive start to his racing career at Arawa Park on Sunday, kicking off a winning treble for his trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.Racing in the colours of harness racing legend Barry Purdon, who owns the colt alongside his wife Katrina and Dean Shannon, Yamato Satona had shown promise through the trials and closed second-favourite in the Green Light Insurance Brokers. Guided by Joe Doyle, the colt was green early in the running but eventua...

Weekend off to a winning start for Wexford

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott got a busy weekend off to a promising start with two wins at Taupo on Friday.The Wexford Stables team won the first race on the card, the Placemakers Rotorua Maiden (1800m), with lightly raced four-year-old Gippsy God, and two hours later they saddled first-starter General Menari for a smart victory in the McLeod Hiabs 3YO (1100m).For good measure, the Matamata trainers also collected placings with High Society and Woman In Charge.“It was a really pleasing d...

I’munstoppable too quick in Matamata return

Speedy mare I’munstoppable never gave her rivals a look in as she maintained a powerful gallop in front throughout to capture the Colchester Engineering Ltd (1200m) on her home track at Matamata.The former Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner hadn’t been seen on raceday for nearly 300 days after finishing last of eleven at Te Rapa back in December last year.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott backed off her when she didn’t come up as well as they would have liked for a...

Waitak reigns supreme in Group 1 Howden Mile

Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak's 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread across his two, three, four, five and now six-year-old seasons, and they have ranged from 1200m all the way up to 2400m.Before Saturday, Waitak’s career highlight came with his stunning burst from the back o...

Reptak too speedy at Ruakaka

Apprentice Gareth Lahoud made good use of his 4kg claim as he guided Reptak to an all-the-way victory in the Northpine Making It Tanalised (1200m) rating 75 contest at Ruakaka on Saturday.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared five-year-old had kicked off his latest campaign with a win at Ellerslie over 1200m back in April and in two subsequent runs had not been disgraced despite not featuring in the placings.Drawn ideally in barrier two Reptak made a swift beginning with Lahoud not af...

Ribkraka brings up win #80 for Wexford's 24/25 Season

Win number 80 for Wexford's 2024/25 season came courtesy of Ribkraka and Yuga Okubo at Te Rapa on Saturday. Ribkraka drew the inside gate in a field that was halved to just four runners by scratchings. Okubo made full use of that handy draw and his 4kg claim, pushing Ribkraka forward to take a clear lead after the first 100m.Torrential rain swept over Te Rapa during the race, but Okubo had Ribkraka enjoying his work and travelling sweetly out in front.Honey Badger loomed on the outside at t...

Wexford three-year-olds rise in torrid Tauranga conditions

Wexford Stables’ three-year-olds prevailed in the survival of the fittest at Tauranga on Wednesday, with Prudentia and Macallan each breaking maiden status in the extremely testing conditions.The opening race of the day had revealed a true Heavy10 track, with rain continuing to fall in the Bay Of Plenty, but that was of no concern to Prudentia, who lapped up the surface in the Tauranga Racecourse Event Centre Maiden (1400m).A half-sister to classy wet-track gallopers Cork and Little Bit Of Lov...

Change in tactics pays winning dividend for Uderzo

Underrated galloper Uderzo took up pacemaking duties at Te Rapa on Saturday for the first time in his career and it proved a masterstroke for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott as he never looked like being headed in the KPMG 1600 (1600m).The six-year-old gelding is far better known as a get back and charge home type so many were surprised when apprentice Rihaan Goyaram bounced him straight to the front and set up a leisurely tempo from race favourite Witz End.It was evident from 800m ...

Ribkraka delivers winning Wexford double

Promising three-year-old Ribkraka thrived on a change of venue to deliver a front-running victory for Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at New Plymouth on Saturday.Entered for both the AB Electrical 3YO (1400m) at New Plymouth as well as a similar three-year-old contest a Te Rapa, O’Sullivan and Scott rolled the dice and sent the son of Ribchester down country and it paid off handsomely as Khavish Chowdhoory had him rolling from barrier rise and looking the winner a ...

The comeback King reigns in Ellerslie staying contest

King Of The North went from zero to hero in the space of two minutes at Ellerslie on Saturday, surprising even his trainers with a massive performance to win the Join TAB Racing Club 2100.An aptly named son of Jon Snow, King Of The North has made a strong early impression as a stayer and was sent out favourite in Saturday’s Rating 75 contest - but he looked more like a pauper than a king after missing the start by five lengths.But, in-form apprentice jockey Triston Moodley maintained his compo...

Do You Just blitzes Champagne rivals

A masterful front-running ride by Warren Kennedy and powerhouse performance from Do You Just turned Saturday’s Listed Skycity Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie into a one-horse race.The pair led for every step of the way in New Zealand’s longest two-year-old race and romped home by six and a half lengths.Do You Just has always been held in high regard by his Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and after being unplaced in two early-season appearances in November and Dec...

Wexford Go Back-To-Back in Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes

Pencarrow Stud homebred, Tomodachi, has made an enormous impression in a short career to date, winning six of her nine starts and more than $179,000 in stakes.The daughter of Tarzino burst on the scene with three wins in a row last autumn, then ventured across the Tasman to Queensland and finished midfield in a solitary appearance over 2180m.A stronger and better version of Tomodachi returned to racing as a four-year-old this season, collecting back-to-back wins at Tauranga and Ellerslie before ...

Kauri capitalises on Wexford opportunity

Promising jockey Liam Kauri jumped at the chance to ride for one of New Zealand’s biggest stables at Trentham on Saturday, guiding Tristar to victory in the Leica Lucy 3YO (1200m).The $35,000 race was Kauri’s 20th win in a career that has been plagued by long stints on the sidelines with injuries. The 25-year-old took special satisfaction from Saturday’s success aboard the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Tristar.“It’s the biggest stable I’ve ever ridden for, so this ...

Rotorua Stakes defence looms for Karman Line

The Group Three winner was right back to her best when taking out the BCD Group 1400 at Te Rapa on Sunday.The daughter of Myboycharlie has mixed her form from the outset and while she won the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last term, she missed the top five in her opening four appearances this season, albeit in strong company.A fourth placing behind stablemate Little Bit Of Love last time out indicated she was on the up, but punters were still wary of the mare and sh...

Back-to-back Group Twos for Waitak

Last year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Waitak has showcased his versatility and class this autumn with a dominant double over 1600m and 2100m.The son of Proisir was a three-length winner of the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga on March 15, and on Saturday he stepped up over even further and won the Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham with similar ease.Waitak has joined a rare club, becoming only the second horse to win both the Railway and the Awapu...

Checkmate bound for Rosehill feature

Wexford Stables took home the major spoils at Tauranga on Saturday, and this weekend, they will venture further afield with class three-year-old Checkmate contesting the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney.Checkmate has impressed in his first racing campaign, winning three races including the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m). The son of Mongolian Khan was selected by trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott to represent Wexford in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and after settling be...

Tauranga specialist prevails in Owens Plate

Grande Gallo collected her third win from four starts at Tauranga with a narrow victory over three-year-old Yaldi in the Triton Pacific Owens Plate (1200m) on Saturday.The daughter of Belardo won the three-year-old race on the undercard of this same Japan Trophy meeting 12 months ago, which has proved to be a strong form reference for the 2025 edition. Grande Gallo won that race by two lengths over You Say D’Orsay, who also returned a year later on Saturday and won the Stu Cundy Bayleys Countr...

Waitak and Elliot a class above in Japan Trophy

The $150,000 feature was a step down in class following a string of high-class summer assignments for Waitak, who has contested 10 Group One races in his 30-start career.The Proisir gelding had gone winless since taking out the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in January of 2024, but he but has subsequently run fourth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), fifth in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), third in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), third in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m), second in the Gr.3 ...

Four NZB Kiwi Runners for Wexford

Wexford Stables’ long-held plan for an all-out assault on The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie has come to fruition, with a quartet of in-form contenders to do battle on Saturday.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will be represented by Checkmate, Sought After, Sethito and Hankee Alpha in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million Champions’ Day feature.“It’s certainly been a massive team effort and at the beginning of the season we had a number of three-year-olds that were genetic...