Wexford Stables star duo step up Australian preparations
Two of Wexford Stables’ star gallopers have taken the next step towards respective Australian features in the coming weeks.
Glamour filly Molly Bloom appeared at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday ahead of a tilt at the upcoming Queensland Carnival, and was under a strong hold by Masa Hashizume throughout the 1300m heat, finishing a narrow second.
“We were really pleased with her. She was a bit above herself in the parade, being away from the races for a while, but a very quiet trial will bring her nerve rate down and condition on,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.
An outstanding winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November, the daughter of Ace High collected subsequent victories in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).
Now under the majority ownership of Australian Ozzie Kheir, Molly Bloom is set for a career across the ditch, but will first represent Wexford in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 11.
“There’s still a fair bit of improvement still to come and she’ll head back to the Te Awamutu trials on the 23rd,” Scott said.
“We will let her stride out a bit more possibly over further distance to improve her fitness levels, and that should top her off before her trip to Brisbane.”
Ten days out from The Quokka (1200m), Waitak has landed safely in Perth with Wexford representative and former jockey Erin Leighton, as the Group One-winning sprinter prepares to contest the $5 million slot race on April 20.
“Erin Leighton has taken him over, she’s a very experienced horsewoman. He went for a quiet trot and canter this morning, and she said he’s felt strong and well within himself,” Scott said.
“He’s settled in well, drunk well, and has been straight into his appetite.”
A son of Proisir, Waitak burst onto the sprinting stage this year with a sensational performance in the Group 1 Railway (1200m), after a three-year-old season that included a trip to Brisbane for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
“This time last year he travelled to Brisbane and he certainly handles the travel well,” Scott said.
“The main thing we focus on is recovery from travel, he lost 14kgs over the trip, but put 6 of those back on in the last 24 hours. We just let him find his feet, familiar with his new surroundings, and his condition will guide us through the next 10 days.
“He was a fit horse before he left, so it’s a matter of maintaining a good healthy condition and keeping an eye on his temperature. He’s in a good place.
“We may look to give him a stretch of his legs next week ahead of Saturday’s race.”
Waitak will race under the Trackside Media/Perth Racing slot in The Quokka, and will partner with Queensland-based hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor, who rode three-year-old stablemate Grail Seeker to victory in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) last month.