Mercurial Hong Kong galloper Pakistan Star joins team O’Sullivan
Hong Kong favourite and dual Group One winner Pakistan Star has joined Expat New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan’s Hong Kong stable.
The erratic galloper has been transferred from Tony Cruz’s stable, along with Pakistan Friend, following a decision made by their owner, Kerm Din.
O’Sullivan is excited to have such a high quality horse join his barn and is looking forward to targeting some Group One races this season with his new acquisition.
“When it comes to Group One horses, I am a bit light at the moment so I didn’t hesitate at all,” O’Sullivan told the South China Morning Post.
“It’s nice to have runners in the big races and he’s only six, so there is plenty to go with him.
“He has been well followed, when he’s good he’s great but when he’s bad, he is disappointing. He is hard to get a line on.
“I’ve got no plans for him at all, it’s only just happened, so I will have to look at what is coming up.
He is a little bit hit and miss, so we will see how we go with him.”
No All Star Mile for Melody Belle
Melody Belle is coming off the back of her fifth Group One victory, but her connections are resisting the urge of accepting a wildcard for the A$5million All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington next month.
Raced by Fortuna Syndications, Melody Belle was on the radar of Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter after her win in the Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday, but Syndicate manager John Galvin said they have elected to bypass the race.
“I fielded a call from Greg Carpenter who advised that Melody Belle was in contention for a wildcard entry,” Galvin said.
“Trainer Jamie Richards and I had previously discussed our position and we had decided that the All Star Mile, attractive as it was, was not the right race for our mare at this time.
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“To travel to Australia to take on their best milers in this event, when already deep into a campaign that commenced last August, was not in the best interests of Melody Belle we had decided.”
The daughter of Commands will now potentially line-up at Ellerslie next month in an attempt to add a sixth Group One win to her record in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
“She has yet to contest a race over the 2000m distance,” Galvin said.
“Given her performance in the Haunui, trainer Jamie Richards and rider Opie Bosson hold the view that 2000m will hold no fear for her.
“This race presents as an ideal opportunity for her final race of the 2018/19 season.”
Sydney still the aim for Ladies First
Last season’s Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First will continue on a path towards the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) despite finishing tenth in the Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday.
“It was a pass mark (the run),” trainer Allan Sharrock said.
“We are happy the way we are tracking. She looks really well. She went super first up (when sixth in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m)) and they often throw in one like that, so I’m not too worried at this stage.
Ladies First will have one further start in New Zealand, the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), before heading across the Tasman to contest the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick.
“She’ll now go to the 2000m race at Ellerslie at weight-for-age, through that into the Chairman’s and then a week later the Sydney Cup,” Sharrock said.