Lance O’Sullivan
Tara Hughes
Lance O'Sullivan has an enviable record in his home town feature and while his two representatives in Saturday's prized event have yet to win, there is confidence in their prospects.
The recent NZ Sports Hall of Fame inductee has been an integral part of his family's success in the Gr.2 J Swaps Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders' Stakes with victories aboard Ma Chiquita (1985), Morar (1990) and Tristalove (1993), that trio being trained by his father Dave and his brother Paul.
Lance, who also won the race on Phillipa Rush (1989) and Flying Babe (2001), furthered his record in the black type contest with Satinka (2007), a filly he prepared with current training partner Andrew Scott.
The duo will on Saturday saddle the last-start placegetters Feisty Jane and Gold Rush.
"They are both maidens, but in saying that their form is strong," O'Sullivan said. "They are two nice fillies and they're not going there to make up the numbers."
Feisty Jane was beaten on debut by Kingsman, who ran third in the Listed Karaka Million at his next start, and then chased home Nova Swiss at Tauranga.
"She was a little unlucky, although she would never have won, but she should have finished a couple of lengths closer first time out and she backed that up with a solid second at Tauranga," O'Sullivan said.
Gold Rush ran fourth in her first appearance before she beat all but the highly-rated Mongolian Falcon at Matamata.
"There's not a lot between our two fillies and I'm confident they will both run well," O'Sullivan said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The recent NZ Sports Hall of Fame inductee has been an integral part of his family's success in the Gr.2 J Swaps Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders' Stakes with victories aboard Ma Chiquita (1985), Morar (1990) and Tristalove (1993), that trio being trained by his father Dave and his brother Paul.
Lance, who also won the race on Phillipa Rush (1989) and Flying Babe (2001), furthered his record in the black type contest with Satinka (2007), a filly he prepared with current training partner Andrew Scott.
The duo will on Saturday saddle the last-start placegetters Feisty Jane and Gold Rush.
"They are both maidens, but in saying that their form is strong," O'Sullivan said. "They are two nice fillies and they're not going there to make up the numbers."
Feisty Jane was beaten on debut by Kingsman, who ran third in the Listed Karaka Million at his next start, and then chased home Nova Swiss at Tauranga.
"She was a little unlucky, although she would never have won, but she should have finished a couple of lengths closer first time out and she backed that up with a solid second at Tauranga," O'Sullivan said.
Gold Rush ran fourth in her first appearance before she beat all but the highly-rated Mongolian Falcon at Matamata.
"There's not a lot between our two fillies and I'm confident they will both run well," O'Sullivan said. – NZ Racing Desk.