Wexford Stables have fond memories at Ellerslie with Asterix, and they are hoping to add another when they head to the Auckland track this Saturday to contest the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m).
Asterix is unbeaten on the course in two starts, recording the stable’s second consecutive win in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie two years ago, and returned to the venue last month to take out the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) under jockey Lynsey Satherley.
The Waikato hoop retains the ride for the Auckland Cup, for which the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Asterix is currently a $4.20 favourite with bookmakers, ahead of the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained pair of Mark Twain ($6) and Dionysus ($6.50).
“Andrew and I are pleased with the way he is going. He is certainly going to strip fit and we are confident he is going to run the two-miles,” Lance O’Sullivan told Trackside NZ.
“He is bred to do that on his dam side, I think she won over 3000m. We thought running distance was never going to be a problem with him going forward. We are going to find out, but we think it is going to be right up his alley. We just couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
O’Sullivan took plenty of satisfaction in seeing Asterix return to winning form at Ellerslie last start.
“The blinkers went back on him and we were hoping he was going to do what he did, and he certainly delivered. He has just got to back it up again this week,” he said.
“He has come back to the Asterix of old.”
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