Derby treble on radar for O’Sullivan and Scott

Media Release - Thursday January 5

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 by Almanzor (Fr) and Proisir 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 is one of five stakes-winners this season for Proisir.

Waitak, who was a fast-finishing second behind Prowess in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day, is on the second line of favouritism for the Derby at $8.

Not far behind him at a quote of $16 is last-start maiden winner Devildom, who will test his stamina credentials in this Sunday’s Listed Barfoot & Thompson Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Pukekohe.

“The Derby is still a long way away, so anything can happen between now and then and any other horse could pop up,” O’Sullivan said. “But certainly, at this stage, we’re happy with both of those horses. They still have a long way to go, but they’re progressive three-year-olds that are going in the right direction.

Advertisement

“We were pleased with Waitak’s performance on New Year’s Day. He’s done a very good job in this preparation, and his next start is likely to be in the Waikato Guineas (Gr.2, 2000m) on February 1.

“This weekend is going to be an interesting race for Devildom. He was quite impressive in his maiden win over 1600m last start – that was a good, progressive performance.

“He’s continued to go the right way since then. It’s always a little bit of an unknown when you get to this stage of the three-year-old season, but Andrew and I have been very pleased with what he’s done so far.

“He was strong at the end of his last race, which bodes well as we prepare to step him up over ground this weekend. You never know whether they’ll manage it until you try it, but it certainly looks as though he’ll cope.”

Looks like a Derby pedigree! Dam is a sister to Irish Oaks runner-up Ice Queen.

Another member of O’Sullivan and Scott’s team at Pukekohe on Sunday is Uderzo, who steps up into Rating 75 grade in the Premier Horse Transport (1500m).

The Vadamos gelding has made a good impression with two wins from his first four starts, including a powerful come-from-behind performance in Rating 65 company at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

“He won very nicely on Boxing Day and is another quite progressive horse,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s going up in grade this weekend and has to make that next step, and he has an awkward gate to contend with (10).

“We don’t have any real plans in mind for him at this stage. We’ll just get this run out of the way first, see how he measures up and then take it from there.”

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan reported that stable star Dragon Leap is likely to bypass next weekend’s Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham.

The Pierro gelding ran an eye-catching race for fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year’s Day.

“That was a really pleasing performance,” O’Sullivan said. “We think he wants a bit further now, so we’ll be looking to run him in the BCD Group Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) back at Te Rapa in about six weeks’ time.”

That February 11 meeting at Te Rapa is also on the radar for Asterix, who is nominated for the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

In his first start since triumphing in the Derby last March, the Tavistock gelding finished at the tail of a small field in a 1600m race at Te Rapa on December 17.

“He’s making good progress,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s going to run over a mile again at Tauranga on Friday of next week, and then we’ll look to step him up to 2000m, potentially at Te Rapa.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

Visit the profile page for Almanzor

Almanzor in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
2YOs at Flemington - G3 Maribyrnong Plate Sale Mail
Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 3
Here is the full list of 59 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.