Cours Vite rewards connections with Ipswich win
A punt taken on Cours Vite has paid off with the lightly raced three-year-old opening his Australian account at short notice.The son of Almanzor broke his maiden at his second appearance in Queensland, following up a debut fourth at Ipswich with a return visit there on Saturday resulting in a dominant display to score over 1666m in the hands of Jake Bayliss.He is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and accompanied stakes winners Dragon Leap and Waitak to Brisbane while the stable’s ...
May 9, 2023Group One spoils on the line
Article by NZ Racing Desk.Racing Hall of Famer Lance O'Sullivan will take aim at another Group One prize this weekend but without any great feeling of expectation.The Matamata trainer has talented Myboycharlie mare Karman Line entered for Saturday's Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe, knowing that if the four-year-old brought her best form she would be competitive.However, while happy with Karman Line leading into the race, O'Sullivan isn't convinced she's at the ...
April 6, 2023Life After Racing - Treasure State
When did you first meet Treasure State (or Gus as he is now called)?I think it was late January 2023. I remember my daughter riding him and yelling out 'he's the one!'.What does retirement now look like for Gus?Gus is owned by my 15-year-old daughter. He enjoy lots of variety including attending Pony Club, and show jumping events, to one day eventing and hacking over the farm. They have attended their first Gymkana, where he was an absolute star. He has also recently attended a show jumping day,...
April 3, 2023Ask Mum Produces Hat Trick
Progressive mare Ask Mum produced the perfect hat trick at Tauranga on Saturday, winning the rating 75 benchmark 1400m ($30,000), and making it three wins in succession. Ridden by Niranjan Parmar, the mare by Ocean Park hit the front at the top of the straight and held off her rivals impressively in the concluding stages. Ask Mum has now had five starts for three wins, one second and a fifth. ...
March 20, 2023Life After Racing- Ripslinger
When did you first meet Ripslinger?I first met Ripslinger (Tilly) as a foal. My parents, Jon and Karen Sprague, bred her, so I helped handle and wean her. During her juvenile years, I was not a fan of hers at all! She was constantly pulling ball cocks off troughs and making us run out of water. She still loves getting in the trough but has a trough with a ball cock cover now. Did you follow Ripslinger during her racing career?Yes, I was responsible for her racing career ending earlier than ...
March 14, 2023Life After Racing- Charles Road
When did you first meet Charles Road?I first met Charlie when I travelled with him to Australia in 2019. That year I ended up spending 125 days with him in Australia (over 30% of my year). I fell in love with the big quirky boy and I asked his owners, David Archer and Diane Wright, if they would consider retiring Charlie to me when the time came.You were involved with Charles Road during his career. How was that experience?I was involved with Charles Road for a short time while travelling him to...
March 14, 2023Life After Racing- Willie Cazals
How did Willie Cazals come into your care?I knew Sarah and Andrew Scott through racing as I used to ride for them. I'd seen William race and asked if I could have him when he retired.What does retirement now look like for William? He's a sweetheart, however he wasn't sound enough for a competitive career. He's made the best grandpa to our young ones and gets spoilt rotten!What do you love most about the thoroughbred? You can't beat a good thoroughbred. They are a lot easier to train as...
March 14, 2023Adkins answers Wexford’s Derby call
Australian jockey Andrew Adkins has answered the call of trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and will cross the Tasman next week to ride Jaffira in the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa.“Andrew Scott approached him during the week and he has accepted the ride on Jaffira,” Lance O’Sullivan said.“We are very pleased to have Andrew, we know he is a good, lightweight jockey in Sydney.”Adkins has had success with Wexford Stables in the past, pla...
February 23, 2023Three's a Charm!
The team enjoyed a red letter day at Pukekohe Park yesterday, with three impressive winners in succession. In just her second raceday appearance, Juju Pop took out Badgemakers maiden 1400m ($20,000) stylishly. In the following race Cornwallis got his well deserved maiden victory in the Mount Shop maiden 1400m ($20,000). The perfect three came when Rising Pacific produced an impressive last to first performance in the Ellerslie Event Centre 1600m ($20,000).All three winners were ridden by Ja...
February 23, 2023Australia calling Te Rapa Group One contenders
Plans have been made for Asterix and Dragon Leap to cross the Tasman this year, but first the stablemates face ultra-competitive line-ups in their respective Group One engagements at Te Rapa.Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been more than satisfied with the duo’s most recent performances and both have trained on well ahead of Saturday’s challenges.Asterix will head into unchartered weight-for-age territory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) with Craig Zackey booked for t...
February 9, 2023Derby planning continues at Te Rapa for O’Sullivan and Scott
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott team will launch a two-pronged attack on Wednesday’s Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) as they finalise their plans to secure a third Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) title in succession. The Matamata stable, who have claimed the blue riband event with Rocket Spade (2021) and Asterix (2022) the last two years, will line-up established performer Waitak and up and comer Devildom in the Te Rapa feature with both looking to cement their Derby cred...
January 30, 2023Wexford 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....
January 27, 2023Asterix 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. ...
January 15, 2023Two 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...
January 12, 2023Derby 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 ...
January 5, 2023Derby 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...
December 14, 2022Satisfying 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...
December 4, 2022Impressive 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 ...
November 27, 2022Feature 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...
November 21, 2022Meet 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...
November 21, 2022Meet 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...
November 14, 2022Future 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 ...
November 4, 2022Meet 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 ...
October 26, 2022Meet 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...
October 21, 2022Meet 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...
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