Evolving Wexford model continues to deliver

The Wexford Stables of today and that of a halcyon period through the final decades of last Century is quite different, but one constant that remains is winning big races.
Founder Dave O’Sullivan moulded Wexford into of the truly potent forces of Australasian racing, winning multiple premierships through the 1980s and ’90s as well as fostering the careers of two other champions, sons Paul and Lance.
Changes along the way included Dave’s retirement in 1998 and five years later Paul becoming the first New Zealand trainer to be granted a Hong Kong licence. The Wexford baton was thus passed to his brother Lance, whose jockey career had ended in 2003.
The younger O’Sullivan was a somewhat reluctant recipient of a trainer’s licence, with no need to pursue a lifestyle heavily embossed by the investments he had made during his career in the saddle. However family loyalty held sway and he applied himself, and after two seasons training solo, he brought proven trainer Andrew Scott into the partnership.
Once the partnership was established, O’Sullivan stepped back for several years and rejoined it in the 2013-14 season. Midway through the decade since, another significant change was the decision to relocate from the property adjacent to Matamata racecourse that had been integral to Wexford’s success since the 1970s to a 40-horse barn on the racecourse itself.
That model has been in place for decades at major Australian and Asian racing venues and is becoming more and more vogue in New Zealand, as illustrated not only at Matamata but also at Cambridge, Riccarton and Awapuni.
Despite changes in personnel at the Wexford helm along with those in the operational model, major winners have continued to emerge.
A New Zealand Derby double by Rocket Spade and Asterix and Dark Destroyer’s victory in last year’s Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy have been recent highlights, and on Saturday at Riccarton Molly Bloom stamped her name on the Wexford honour roll with a resounding win in the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
The Ace High filly was selected at last year’s National Yearling Sale and signed for by Lance O’Sullivan at $150,000. The partnership pulled together combined old and new, one of the former group long-time Wexford client Brian ‘Pies’ Anderson and fresh recruits via O’Sullivan’s wife Bridgette and their daughters Caitlin and Georgia.
Hong Kong identity Ben Kwok, a massive investor in New Zealand racing and breeding, holds a significant slice in Molly Bloom, as does another entity under the name Forest Partnership.
“The Forest Partnership is Paul and me,” O’Sullivan told RaceForm. “For better or worse, we would be Wexford’s biggest owners, but that’s a choice we’ve made.”
For decades the O’Sullivan brothers have invested freely in young bloodstock, something that was lucrative during Paul’s years in Hong Kong but which since his retirement and return to New Zealand has lessened in significance.
“We’re selling less to Hong Kong these days,” O’Sullivan continued, “which I guess is reflected in the higher number of winners we’ve had lately.”
With a tally of 17 wins from just 75 starters since August 1, the O’Sullivan-Scott partnership is currently in third place on the trainers’ premiership, its highest spot for some years.
“I have to acknowledge that Andrew does most of the hard work. I’ve got my farm and other interests and I’m lucky that he’s such a hard worker, which is reflected in the results we’ve had over the years.
“I’m at the track most mornings and I’m also at the trials and sales, but not so much on raceday, I’m happy to leave that to the mainstays in the team.”
With Scott at Riccarton from Tuesday last week overseeing Molly Blue and fellow 1000 Guineas candidate Grande Gallo, O’Sullivan made the rare decision to accompany his wife and daughters south on Saturday morning – and he’s glad he did.
“It was great to be there with everyone else involved, and even coming back to the stables on Monday morning to see how that win lifted the whole staff.”
Plans for Molly Bloom revolve around two races in the New Year – the Karaka Millions 3YO in late January and the Australian Oaks in mid-April.
“She’ll run in the Eight Carat (on Boxing Day at Pukekohe) all going well, and the Karaka Millions race has to be considered. It would be good to think we could end up in Sydney in the autumn, so hopefully she’ll step up and confirm that.”
The 1984 Australian Oaks was a landmark event for the O’Sullivan triumvirate, a training victory for Dave and Paul and Lance’s first Group One on the big stage of Australian racing, the first winning apprentice since World War ll.
“I caught up with DJ on Monday and he asked me what we had in mind for the filly. When I said the long-term target was Sydney, he said ‘That sounds okay to me’, so it’s reassuring to know we’re on the same page.”