Major targets for two and dress rehearsals for others add up to an intriguing day’s racing for a talent-packed Wexford Stables contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s team is headed by Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), one the hot favourite for her elite racing debut in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the other looking for more feature success in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Ōtaki-Māori Weight-for-Age Classic (1600m).
Ohope Wins is one of three fillies entered for the New Zealand Oaks along with stablemates Acer and Clara Bow, while Yamato Satona and Genki make a double hand for the Gr.2 Eagle Technology (2100m), and likewise L’Aigle Noir and Panther in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
Dominant performances by Ohope Wins in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Classic (2100m) at her last two starts have resulted in her being installed the favourite for both Saturday’s New Zealand Oaks and the Gr. 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), scheduled for Ellerslie on March 7.
That form has also meant a change in ownership for the Ocean Park filly, who now sports the increasingly ubiquitous Yulong Investments colours, which will also be carried in Saturday’s classic by second favourite and fellow Ocean Park filly Autumn Glory.
While Ohope Wins is also highly rated for the New Zealand Derby, co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan is adamant that the current focus is this weekend’s assignment.
“As always we’re treating it as one race at a time,” he said on Tuesday. “Any consideration for a Derby start will only come after we’ve discussed that with her connections and not until after Saturday.
“We’re very happy with how she came through that last run at Te Rapa and everything has gone to plan since.
“Joe Doyle came across to ride her in her main gallop this morning and she worked very well on the course proper. Clara Bow will be ridden by Warren Kennedy and she also worked well, as did Acer. All three fillies are very well.
“Erin Leighton, who rode Acer well when she won the fillies’ race at New Plymouth and had a close association with the stable when she was in Matamata, will ride her again.”
The stable’s star weight-for-age performer Waitak has not raced since his unplaced run in the Gr. 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and has been freshened for the drop back in distance on the weekend.
“We made the decision to back off and freshen him up, after all he had already had a big year with more to come,” O’Sullivan said. “That way he would get the opportunity to perform up to his best in the last two.
“We’re very happy with him heading into the mile race, and that will work well for the step up to 2000 in the Bonecrusher Stakes.”
Yamona Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) will be out to enhance his New Zealand Derby prospects when he lines up in the Avondale Guineas off the back of late-finishing thirds in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m).
“Those were both very good runs and he’ll continue along that traditional Derby path on Saturday,” O’Sullivan said. “There’s still plenty of improvement in him and by the time he gets to his main target he won’t lack anything in fitness.
“Genki is still a maiden but we do like him as a stayer, but first he has to get a start on Saturday and try and qualify, otherwise he’ll go to Pukekohe next week for a last chance to make the field with a maiden win.”
L’Aigle Noire and Panther will both have blinkers added when they line up in Saturday’s Gr. 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), which for virtually all runners will be a final dress rehearsal for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day.
A win by either could well secure Wexford’s slot for the rich three-year-old race, however O’Sullivan is not getting ahead of himself.
“That was some run by Panther when he ran second at Ellerslie with nothing going his way and he’s coming to form at the right time,” he said.
“L’Aigle Noir had nothing go his way in his last run either, but his form before that was very good.
“They worked well together this morning and will go into Saturday sound and happy. We figure the addition of blinkers will sharpen them, so along with the rest of the team, it will be interesting to see how they go.”