Pierro's Dragon Leap on Comeback Trail

Media Release - Sunday August 6

Wexford Stables have locked in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) as Dragon Leap’s next major target following his convincing win at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The seven-year-old Pierro gelding was first-up in the 9 Sep Alibaba’s Flying Carpets KeriKeri (1100m), with his spring plans resting on the outcome.

Dragon Leap winning at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Race Images

Despite his 62kg impost, punters backed him into $1.70 favouritism and he did not disappoint, running out a three-length victor.

Dragon Leap was returning from a three start Queensland Winter campaign, which included a runner-up result in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were pleased to see him back in winning form.

“It (win) was certainly heartening for the team,” Scott said.

“Sometimes when you bring them back from Australia you never know how well they are going to run, but it was a heartening performance to see him back, sprinting well and quickening in the way you would hope.”

Scott received positive feedback from jockey Opie Bosson following the win, which has given the Matamata conditioners confidence to press on to the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 26 with their charge.

Advertisement

“Opie got off him and said he felt great and quickened well under him. He gave us the confidence to concentrate on the Foxbridge,” Scott said.

“To see him quicken as well as he did yesterday, we would like to see something similar in the ground at Te Rapa and he can quicken the same way.”

Following his run in the Foxbridge, Scott said they will likely remain in New Zealand with the gelding for the remainder of the spring.

“We will concentrate on local racing at this stage of the preparation. There are some good options here for him in the first part of the spring,” he said.

“We will try and build a form line with him. He has been hot and cold from time to time, so we just want to get some consistent racing into him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pierro Group Winner on Comeback Trail
Dragon Leap is on target to resume at Ruakaka next month before he chases further black-type titles.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Star Pierro 3YO on Track for NZ Derby
A $1,050,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd / Wexford Stables / Andrew Williams Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, exciting ro three year-old Dragon Leap was in hot form at Ellerslie on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the Group II Jamieson Park Avondale Guineas (2100m).
Pierro Gelding Dragon Leap Primed for G1 Sprint
A steady stream of winners in the past few months has the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott training partnership sitting in fourth on the National Trainer’s premiership table and they look to have a number of top chances to add to their season’s 22-win tally at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.