G1 Winning Proisir Sprinter Confirmed for $5million Quokka

Media Release - Monday March 11

Wexford Stables will break new ground next month with their Group One-winning sprinter Waitak heading to Western Australia.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir has been confirmed as the slot runner for New Zealand’s Trackside Media and host club Perth Racing in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth.

Waitak winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year's Day.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trackside is the media and broadcast arm of the TAB, which Entain Australia and New Zealand operates under a 25-year strategic partnering agreement.

The inaugural 2023 running of the weight-for-age The Quokka was won by expatriate Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker with Overpass, who is expected to return to defend his title at Ascot on April 20.

“It’s exciting for the whole team here and the ownership group and we’re very appreciative of Entain offering us the slot,” Scott said.

“It’s something new for us and we’re not going there to make up the numbers, he’s a very good sprinter and if he gets conditions and tempo to suit then he’ll be finishing off strongly.”

Advertisement

Waitak opened his four-year-old season with victory in an open handicap at Te Rapa before he thundered home from last to claim the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).

He then finished midfield in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) after racing three wide without cover.

Waitak subsequently bypassed the Gr.3 Kings Plate (1200m) earlier this month due to a slightly elevated temperature and won’t race again before The Quokka.

“We decided to leave him at home and he’s well and truly over that now and he had a wee breeze along on Saturday morning and moved well,” Scott said.

“We will be giving him a quiet trial on Thursday and we might even look to trial him again on the 28th.

“He races really well fresh and he’ll fly to Sydney and then to Perth. By the time we get a couple of trials into him this month and, on top of the travel, he will be ready when he arrives there.

“We haven’t talked about a jockey yet but hopefully we’ll be locking in a top rider.”

Perth Racing Chief Executive James Oldring welcomed the confirmation of Waitak as the Trackside Media runner.

"It's fantastic to have New Zealand representation in Perth for The Quokka and no doubt Waitak’s presence will generate plenty of interest from Kiwi racing fans,” he said.

“We look forward to welcoming him and his team to Ascot in April.”

Meanwhile, Waitak’s star young stablemate and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom is progressing well.

The daughter of Ace High is in the mix for a crack at the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on March 30, which has been relocated to Ellerslie.

An inspection of the Te Aroha track last Friday deemed the current issues with the course will not be remedied in time.

“Her progress will dictate whether she gets to that race and, at this stage, we are hoping to build toward it,” Scott said.

“She will have a quiet trial on Thursday and everything will become a lot clearer after that.”

A trip to the Brisbane winter carnival is also in the mix for Molly Bloom filly, who won last month’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at her most recent appearance.

“Her progress toward race day fitness in the next couple of weeks will dictate where we look to run her,” Scott said.

“We haven’t really made plans and want to get the trial under her belt first and then set a plan from there.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
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.
Proisir Sprinter Chasing G1 Double
After being nothing short of spectacular in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, emerging sprinter Waitak will hunt a Group One double in Saturday’s BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Sixth G1 Winner Proisir - Waitak Sensational Winning Railway
Former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan captured five Gr.1 Railway (1200m) successes in the saddle and on Monday he finally got his hands on the silverware as a trainer, courtesy of Waitak’s explosive victory in the Sistema-sponsored feature.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.