Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are keeping their eye on the prize in Saturday’s Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), as slot horses Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth) and Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) have their final hit-out before next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
It was evident from early in the season that O’Sullivan and Scott were likely to play a big role in the NZB Kiwi, with an abundance of three-year-old talent in their arsenal. Wexford currently have Sought After, Sethito and Checkmate in the race, with the latter pair lining up in the curtain-raiser at Ellerslie on Avondale Cup Day.
Checkmate was last seen at the course on January 12, winning an open three-year-old 1500m contest after picking up the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) earlier in the season. Sethito’s form has been similarly impressive, winning the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) before narrowly missing in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1400m) on Boxing Day.
“Checkmate had 10 days in the paddock for a freshen-up, as did Sethito and now it’s just maintenance work going into this race,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re hoping that they will be peaking two weeks later.
“They’ve had one piece of work together but do most of their work separately, in saying that, they are pretty evenly matched.”
While their stablemates are locked in under the Wexford and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing slots respectively, chasing an opportunity in the NZB Kiwi will be Hankee Alpha (NZ) (Proisir) and Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance).
Hankee Alpha was a standout maiden winner and backed that up in Rating 65 company, before a meritorious fifth in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). The daughter of Proisir will have just her fourth start on Saturday, just one less than Tristar, who was outstanding when winning at Tauranga in early January.
“She (Hankee Alpha) ran well in the Almanzor, she got around Ellerslie and I think her sectionals were very respectable,” O’Sullivan said. “We were very pleased.
“This race will only continue to improve her and we expect her to put up a good performance.
“I thought Tristar’s win last start was very good and she has trialled in the interim, she went to Ellerslie and got around the course nicely.
“It would be nice if someone could pick her up as well, she’s certainly worthy.”
The Wexford quartet are all prominent in the Uncle Remus market, with Checkmate and Sethito on top at $3.80, Hankee Alpha at $8 and Tristar at $8.50.
Earlier on the card, Group One winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)will have his first race further than 1400m in nearly two years in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).
Waitak was Group One-placed as a juvenile and continued that form into his three-year-old year, winning the Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Memorial (now Armacup 3YO Stakes) over 1500m and placing in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
The Proisir gelding earned a trip to Brisbane where he contested the major distance features, but on his return at four, it became evident that he was more effective over six furlongs, winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and contesting the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth.
Continuing his consistent form, Waitak has been thereabouts at every start at the top level in sprint company this term, but after a booming run from the back in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), O’Sullivan and Scott turned their focus to the mile feature.
“Looking at the way he’s racing, his pattern certainly suggests that he’s wanting to run further,” O’Sullivan said. “He’ll get that opportunity this weekend and we expect him to be competitive.
“He hasn’t run past 1400m for quite some time, but that won’t be any concern.”
Waitak is rated a $16 chance in the early market for the $500,000 contest, headed by El Vencedor ($2.70) and Orchestral ($3.50).
