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Meet the Team - Megan Fenwick

Megan leading Dark Destroyer and Sam Weatherley back after winning the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate. Image: Grant Peters....

Dark Destroyer game in Rough Habit

Kiwi raider Dark Destroyer has been building towards a Queensland breakthrough and at the third run of his Australian campaign, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir prevailed in the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate ($272,000) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. It was a hard-fought victory for the talented gelding who had won the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) in his homeland on New Year’s Day before the focus switched to an autumn campaign in Australia. After closing well for second in...

Scott on a special mission as he heads back to Brisbane

This time two weeks ago Matamata trainer Andrew Scott was in Brisbane when he received the tragic news of the death in a traffic accident of his father, popular Horowhenua horseman Jack Scott. Having joined his family in Foxton on Monday to farewell their 91-year-old patriarch, Scott headed back to Brisbane today hoping to honour his father in the best way possible. The day after his father’s death, Scott saddled up Dark Destroyer, who he trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, for seco...

Dark Destroyer Shines in Queensland Guineas

A gallant run for second in Saturday’s Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) by Dark Destroyer brought some welcome relief for co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan.O’Sullivan prepares the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) aspirant with training partner Andrew Scott and was delighted to see the son of Proisir bounce back to his best in the hands of jockey Sam Weatherley as he went down fighting in the Group Two feature by just under a length to the James Cummings-trained Character.Having just his second start...

Dark Destroyer ready to kick off Queensland campaign

Exciting three-year-old Dark Destroyer is ready to make his raceday return in the Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) at Eagle Farm this coming weekend.The David Archer-owned three-year-old son of Proisir hasn’t been seen since his gritty victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, with trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott keen to see him perform up to his best during a Brisbane winter campaign.“We’re very happy with him and keen to see him st...

Gone With The Wind gets deserved victory

The stable picked up another win at Rotorua on Saturday with four-year-old mare Gone With The Wind, who O’Sullivan believes can excel on the wet tracks likely to be on offer in the next few months. “She (Gone With The Wind) deserved her win on Saturday as she had gone some nice races lately without an ounce of luck,” he said.“Andrew and I both think she will be better on the yielding surfaces, so hopefully she can take the step up and perform to a similar level throughout the rest of thi...

Son of Vadamos impressive on debut

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Uderzo, a three-year-old gelding by Vadamos, closed over the top of runner-up Eridor to score impressively on debut.“He is quite a nice horse, he just needs to learn to settle a wee bit, that is why we ran him over 1200m to run him off his feet a bit,” Scott said.“He will certainly get around two corners at some part of his career, when the penny drops.“We will take it race by race and we are in no big hurry to go anywhere. The group that o...

Wexford in the thick of the day two action at Karaka

Fresh from their stunning Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) triumph at Ellerslie on Saturday, Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were back in the limelight at Karaka on Tuesday.The pair purchased three individuals on the first day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and midway through the second day of selling had added two more youngsters to their haul including Lot 303, the US Navy Flag colt out of Fastnet Rock mare Honfleur from the Valachi Downs draft.The colt comes from a ste...

Melbourne Cup aspirations for Derby hero

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are eyeing a tilt at the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in spring with Asterix after his victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The son of Tavistock took out the $1 million feature after a light preparation and his conditioners have elected to send him to the spelling paddock to give him time to mature ahead of spring.“Andrew and I sat down with one of the part-owners, Sam Kelt, this morning and Sam’s dream has always ...

Asterix delivers Derby double for O’Sullivan and Scott

Twelve months after living up to expectations with a Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite, Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott went back-to-back with a very different kind of triumph at Ellerslie on Saturday.In contrast to their 2021 Derby hero Rocket Spade, who came into the classic as a $4 favourite with outstanding lead-up form under his belt, O’Sullivan and Scott were well and truly under the radar in 2022 with last-start maiden winner Asterix.But the well-re...

Wexford set to defend Derby crown

Wexford Stables couldn’t get what appeared to be their two leading chances in the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) to the starting gates, but it appears they won’t be without a chance of retaining their title at Ellerslie on Saturday. Injuries kept Dark Destroyer and Karman Line out of the classic, but trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are set to start recent Tauranga 2100m maiden winner Asterix in the race they won last year with Rocket Spade.“I thought it was a good, st...

Group One Assignment next for Cacofonix

Following an impressive win over 1400m on his home track yesterday, promising colt Cacofonix will be in search of Group One glory next start.  The son of Dundeel will look to run in the Gr.1 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (3YO SW 1600m - $260,000) in three weeks time.  Obliged to race three wide throughout, yesterday's performance showed co-trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott enough to target the Group One next start.  "He did it hard during the run yesterday but was ve...

Celebrating Auckland Cup Week® | O'Sullivan + Derby = Success

Article by EllerslieWhen it comes to anything thoroughbred related, it’s safe to say jockey-turned-trainer, Lance O’Sullivan, knows his stuff. And as we start to look forward to the opening day of Auckland Cup Week® - Vodafone Derby Day - it's hard to separate the O'Sullivan name from the history of the day's feature race, with 2-time wins as a jockey and just last year, taking his first Derby win as a trainer. We managed to grab him for a quick chat (he's a busy man!) and in the process,...

Wexford juvenile times Karaka Million run to perfection

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have timed their run to the DoubleTree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie next week to perfection with promising juvenile Time Ruler.The gelding ran away to a comfortable 5-1/2 length victory in the Ray White Mount Maunganui Juvenile (1200m) at Tauranga on Friday, with his $17,250 earnings from the race booking his spot in next week’s two-year-old feature.It was also a good result for his sire Time Test, who recorded his first souther...

Last-gasp Guineas win for Dark Destroyer

With back-to-back stakes wins including a last-gasp thriller in Saturday’s Gr.2 SKYCITY Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie, Dark Destroyer is stepping up to fill a void for owners David Archer and Diane Wright. The couple’s distinctive grey and blue colours have had a quiet few months following the retirements of quality trans-Tasman performers Bostonian and Charles Road during the winter. But it turned out that their next star galloper was just around the corner, as Dark Destroyer debute...

Dark Destroyer all class in Bonecrusher Stakes

A downgrade in the Matamata track due to persistent rain on the day played right into the hands of local runner Dark Destroyer as the promising galloper delivered a gritty victory in the day’s feature event, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).Sent out a warm $2 favourite after the late scratching of his well-fancied stablemate Karman Line due to the downgrade from a Dead4 to a Slow8 track surface, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir showed plenty of ...

Bright future for Dark Destroyer

Progressive three-year-old Dark Destroyer got off the mark in fine style when winning a maiden over 1300m at Taupo on Wednesday.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding had caught the eye when charging home into third at his first start at Taupo last month, and punters duly supported him into even money favourite on Wednesday.Despite being moderately into stride, Dark Destroyer was able to eventually take up a forward position on inferior inside ground, before rider Sam Weatherly ...

Wet Track Specialist Extends Record at Rotorua

Aero De Paris continued his purple patch of form at Rotorua on Saturday when winning the RG & CM Donaldson Memorial 1215.The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding has now won two of his four starts this preparation, and finished runner-up in his other two starts.His trainers were pleased with the win and said he has matured a lot since his last preparation, allowing the Matamata conditioners to utilise the claim of apprentice jockey Joe Kamaruddin.“It was his career best performa...

Aero De Paris provides welcome holiday boost

A stirring victory by handy winter sprinter Aero De Paris at Te Rapa on Saturday provided some additional holiday cheer for co-trainer Andrew Scott.Scott, who prepares the six-year-old son of Tavistock with training partner Lance O’Sullivan, is in the middle of a two-week South Island sojourn with his family but managed to find his way to a pub in Christchurch to watch the open 1200m contest.Aero De Paris relished the Heavy10 track conditions plus the three-kilogram weight relief provided by t...

Rocket Spade crowned Ellerslie's Horse of the Year

New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade has been crowned Ellerslie’s 2020/21 Horse of the Year.  Rocket Spade was purchased by team Wexford at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale for A$425,000, for loyal owners Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd. This year, Rocket Spade scored impressive wins in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas, with a placing against older horses in between races. Sent out as the favourite in the New Zealand Derby, Rocket Spade pro...

Princess Rihanna back to her best at Ellerslie

Consistent performer Princess Rihanna got a just reward on Saturday when she stormed to victory in an open 1100m contest at Ellerslie. The rising seven-year-old mare had finished an unlucky third at the venue in a similar event last month but snared the thick end of the prize this time, courtesy of a well-judged ride by apprentice Taiki Yanagida. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained daughter of Showcasing made her usual good beginning to sit handy to the pace before looking to issue h...

Charles Road Retired

Quality stayer Charles Road has been retired.The seven-year-old gelding acquitted himself well in Australasia’s staying features, headlined by his victory in the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick three years ago.Raced as Sir Charles Road in Australia, the son of Myboycharlie also placed in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m), and ran seventh in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).On home soil, he boasts victories in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Ma...

Force of will primed for Vinery

Group Three winner Force Of Will has arrived in Sydney ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly is still finding her feet after flying over to Sydney on Monday, but her connections are confident she will settle in well ahead of her weekend assignment. “She arrived yesterday evening. She went for a trot and canter this morning and she is sound,” O’Sullivan told SENtrack. “She didn’t eat a lot ...

Derby winner makes the most of Tauranga outing

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade provided his connections with the perfect dress rehearsal for his Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) challenge next month when he gave his age-group rivals a start and a beating over 1600m at Tauranga on Saturday. The last start Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner looked a picture of health as he paraded before the start and raced accordingly as he proved too classy in the closing stages of the contest. Rider Craig Grylls allowed the Fastnet Rock colt to amble a...

Sydney beckons New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade

Twenty-four hours on from winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Rocket Spade on Sunday, trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were basking in the glory of a job well done.The training duo quite rightly celebrated the blue riband victory with close friends and family in Matamata on Sunday night after leaving a strangely quiet Ellerslie, which conducted the feature meeting a day later than planned under COVID-19 alert level 2 conditions.“It was a really satisfying win and great ...