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.

“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).

Advertisement

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

Advertisment
More Reading...
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.