Wexford Stables Brings Strong Quartet to Legacy Lodge

[Wandering Eyes]

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are not short of sprinting talent in their Matamata stable, with four runners set to contest Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa.

The Waikato racecourse has been a happy hunting ground for each of their quartet, particularly so for Little Bit Of Love(NZ) (Time Test), a winner in three of his four starts at the venue in his last campaign.

“He had quite a winning sequence there over the winter months, and he’ll have to quicken on the fast ground, which we’re dearly hoping he does,” Scott said. “Until you try, you don’t know.

“He’s trialled very well, we’ve been pleased with the way he’s worked on since then.

“He loves Te Rapa, he’s got a good draw (1), no weight and he’s a very honest, consistent galloper that will be in the finish.”

I’munstoppable(NZ) (Charm Spirit) has a similar affinity with Te Rapa having collected the biggest win of her short career there in April, the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Charm Spirit has benefitted from a lengthy spell through the winter months, with a pair of trials through October preparing her for Saturday’s contest.

“She’s coming up well, she’s stronger physically and also has developed a lot mentally this time around, she’s a lot more settled,” Scott said.

“She hasn’t drawn as well as we’d hoped, but she’s trialled really well in a settled manner this preparation, so hopefully she can carry that into her racing this season.

“There’s certainly no reason why she can’t have a really good summer in front of her, we believe she’ll get to that top grade and she’ll run well on Saturday.

“She’s a talented, speedy mare.”

I’munstoppable has drawn barrier 12, just outside of her stablemate Geriatrix, who powered back into form with an eye-catching second placing in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) behind Spencer.

“We were thrilled with his performance, he’s a horse with a good load of talent and we think he’ll be close to a winning chance again on Saturday,” Scott said.

“Obviously he’s going from seven furlongs back to the six so he’s had a month to freshen, he races very well at Te Rapa and his run there at this distance in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes was very good.

“He hasn’t drawn as favourably as we would’ve wished, but he’s a second-halfer in the run and he’ll finish strong.

“We’re hoping that he’ll sprint well on Saturday to give us confidence to go through the summer sprint series, we’d like to lean that way rather than going towards a mile. His performance on Saturday will certainly guide us.”

Completing the Wexford contingent will be Uderzo(NZ) (Vadamos), a two-time winner over 1200m that will appear in his favourable fresh state.

“He always sprints well fresh, his fresh-up record is very good and he’s had a couple of nice hit-outs at the trials to fit him up for Saturday,” Scott said.

“He’s in for a good campaign, he’s better form is probably over a little further, but it wouldn’t surprise us at all if he sprinted well fresh. He’s a beautiful big horse with a good amount of scope.”

The stable will have three other runners across the Te Rapa card, including Smart Love(NZ) (Savabeel), a Savabeel filly who was denied narrowly on debut by Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-bound filly Sexy And I Moet.

She found one better again in her next start at Taupo, a result Scott hopes she can improve on in the Fresh Choice Leamington 3YO (1600m).

“She’s a beautiful big scopey filly that will only get better as the distances get longer,” he said.

“Out to the mile, and on a flat track, she should get into a good gallop from a nice gate. She doesn’t need to do much more to be winning a race and we think she’s another who is continuing to improve.

“She’ll make a strong account of herself on Saturday.”

Smart Love will race in the colours of Waikato Stud, as will her younger stablemate Do You Just, who makes his race-day debut in the Hallmark Stud 1100.

“He’s had the three trials, his most recent trial was quite encouraging and he’s going to really enjoy getting out on the big flat surface at Te Rapa over a little further,” Scott said.

“Post his last trial, he’s gone the right way, and we’re certainly expecting him to run well.

“He’s got a good load of ability, he’s a strong colt who should make his presence felt.”

Scott is hopeful Time Traveller(NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) can continue his winning momentum into the SkyCity Waikato Cup Day 14 Dec (2200m), after breaking maidens over ground at Taupo last start.

“He stays well, he worked towards the longer distances and it wouldn’t surprise us, with his confidence up, that he could go on with it,” he said.

“We’re expecting a similar performance to last start.”

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