Horse Racing in New Zealand’s Top Stable Challenges

One of Horse Racing in New Zealand’s leading thoroughbred stables is preparing for a significant period as their top horses take on new and demanding challenges. The team of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Wexford Stables has enjoyed a strong black-type season, but the coming weeks will test their star performers in fresh ways.

Among the stable’s biggest names, Waitak secured an impressive victory in the 150,000 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy at Tauranga. Under a well-judged ride by Ryan Elliot, the gelding left his rivals trailing and secured Wexford Stables’s seventh stakes victory of the season. The win keeps the stable firmly in third place in the premiership, just one win behind Stephen Marsh.

Now, the focus shifts to the Awapuni Gold Cup at Trentham on March 29, where Waitak will step up to 2100m—a distance he last attempted as a three-year-old. Co-trainer Andrew Scott sees this as a key test for the horse’s future.

“We think he is ready for that step up now, and how he handles it will tell us a lot about his options for next season,” Scott says. “Who knows, maybe he can be the next El Vencedor, a sprinter who transforms into a 2000m weight-for-age horse. We can only hope.”

Another Wexford Stables contender moving up in distance is Checkmate Horse,  who will contest the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney this Saturday. A place-getter in the NZB Kiwi, Checkmate Horse was once considered a top contender for the Horse Racing in New Zealand Derby before his connections opted for a different route. That decision paid off, particularly in light of Willydoit’s dominant Derby victory.

Everything about Checkmate Horse’s breeding suggests he will thrive over middle distances. By Mongolian Khan, a two-time Derby winner, and a full brother to 2400m winner Bankers Choice, he appears built for staying trips. However, this Australian campaign will be short and focused.

“It is a one-race raid, so no matter how he races this Saturday, he won’t be going to the Australian Derby on April 5,” Scott confirms. “We think he is ready for 2000m, but we didn’t make the latest Derby payment last week. Like Waitak stepping up to 2100m, Checkmate Horse’s performance this week might give us a better idea of his future targets.”

Top jockey Blake Shinn has been booked for the ride, adding further confidence to the team’s expectations.

While Checkmate Horse prepares for Sydney, stablemate Sethito will remain Horse Racing in New Zealand for the Wellington Guineas at Trentham this Saturday. Initially considered for the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in Sydney, the filly’s connections opted to keep her at 1400m for now.

“We were thinking about the Vinery, but it’s shaping up to be very strong for what would have been her first try at 2000m, so she will instead drop back to the 1400m this Saturday,” Scott explains. “If she holds her form, we could look at options for her in Sydney, but more likely Queensland or even South Australia.”

The stable’s most accomplished runner, Grail Seeker, is also being considered for an Australian mission. The two-time Group 1 winner was dominant in both the Tarzino and Telegraph over the summer but was below her best in the BCD Sprint at Te Rapa.

“She races best fresh, and I think we made a mistake heading into the BCD. We should have given her more of a let-up between runs—her batteries were just a bit flat,” Scott admits.

Indeed, Grail Seeker is definitely up for a trial next week, possibly taking a trip to Sydney. Should the trial proceed satisfactorily, the focus may shift toward the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 19. A week thereafter, following The Championships-a period in which plenty of sprinters could have their sights on a Randwick run in the TJ Smith Stakes on April 5-making such a target look all the more enticing.

Many of the finest gallopers, who have graced the Horse Racing in New Zealand, have gone to down-under Australia, and of all such promising horses, Grail Seeker could be the one taking to fly. She is clearly showing the value that Horse Racing in New Zealand continues to put on the world stage, given her performances locally, and it would further cement her place in the international scheme if she did well in Sydney.

“It will still be a significant step up from Horse Racing in New Zealand sprinting company and the greatest test of her career,” Scott says.

As the Horse Racing in New Zealand black-type season begins to wind down, Wexford Stables is setting its sights on fresh challenges across both sides of the Tasman. With Waitak and Checkmate Horse stepping up in distance, Sethito refining her craft at shorter trips, and Grail Seeker preparing for a possible Australian campaign, the stable’s next few weeks promise to be pivotal.

O’Sullivan and Scott have guided their team to an impressive run of success this season, but tougher assignments now await. Whether their stars can take the next step will be a key storyline in the coming months.