The famous Matamata training operation won both the Sires' Produce Stakes in Sydney and the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes on the same day in 1998.
Dave and Paul O'Sullivan produced Alf to win at Randwick while Zola claimed the
Ellerslie feature, now known as the Sistema Stakes.The current Wexford trainers, Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, are seeking a slightly different but equally prestigious juvenile Group One double on Saturday.
Snitzel colt Summer Passage, who has already won the Sistema Stakes, tackles the $A1 million Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick, less than two hours after Princess Rihanna and Nothin' On Me represent the stable in the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni.
Scott acknowledged that Summer Passage faced a major step up in Sydney, where he will be ridden by Zac Purton.
"His New Zealand form has been encouraging and we had to have a go," he said. "He's a happy horse and still on the way up, has the right jockey on and has form on right-handed tracks, so he ticks a few boxes."
Summer Passage has yet to race on a track rated as worse than dead, but Scott will not be overly concerned if the track remains in the soft range.
Meanwhile, former stable apprentice Derek Leung will take the ride on Princess Rihanna at Awapuni
"Derek is going really well in Hong Kong and won two races at Sha Tin last Sunday," Scott said.
Princess Rihanna won on debut and has since posted fourth placings in the Gr.3 Eclipse Strakes, the Karaka Million, the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes and the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes.
A debut third in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, Nothin' On Me was fifth when resuming last time out in the Breeders' Stakes' at Matamata. – NZ Racing Desk.
