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 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.
Pierro's Dragon Leap Scorches Rivals in Foxbridge Plate
Punters got it spot on in the feature event at Te Rapa on Saturday, as favourite Dragon Leap defeated second elect Skew Wiff in a thrilling finish to the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m). 
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
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).
Beaufort Downs Celebrate Stakes Success with Platinum Diamond
A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Consecutive Wins For Lucky Vega’s I’m Lucky Two
Off the back of an impressive two length victory over 1000m at Toowoomba at the end of June, the month between runs didn’t pose any issues as the Michael Nolan trained Lucky Vega (IRE) gelding I’m Lucky Two stepped out over 870m to win once again.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Fifth Winner For Hanseatic As Audio Pop Cam Wins
With four jumpouts under her belt, winning the last three, Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Hanseatic filly Audio Pop Cam was too good for her rivals, starting favourite to win the Unox Casa Maiden Plate (1100m) at Pakenham with ease.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.