Classic hope Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) will have two upcoming chances to convince connections he has the right credentials for a crack at the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m).
The son of Proisir’s age group form this season has earned him a $10 quote for the March 5 feature with a new distance challenge awaiting the gelding in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m).
The David Archer-raced Dark Destroyer has won three times up to a mile, including consecutive successes in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), in which he coped admirably with a Good 3 track on New Year’s Day.
“He’s had a bit of time between runs, hence we’ve taken the blinkers off him. From that gate (nine), we hope he doesn’t over-race and can settle,” O’Sullivan said.
“Certainly, he will take good improvement out of the race. If he can run the 2000m out well then no doubt David would want to carry on to the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and take it from there.”
While Dark Destroyer has a speedy pedigree, he is from the family of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) and the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Complacent.
“A lot of people are in the same boat when these three-year-olds are stepping up to run 2000m and some can and some can’t, so we just have to wait and see,” O’Sullivan said.
“The good thing about him is that he does find the line in his races.”
The stable also has the Derby nominated pair of Ozark (NZ) (Tarzino) and Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) set to run on Wednesday, in the Waikato Draught Maiden (2100m) and the BCD Group Mile (1600m) respectively.
“It might come around a bit quick for Asterix and Ozark has had the racing and he’s got to put his hand up and do it,” O’Sullivan said.
Asterix finished sixth on debut last month while Ozark finished fifth in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m).
“It was a pass mark for Ozark, he has got to do a bit better but it was a funnily-run race so we’ll assess him again after Te Rapa,” O’Sullivan said.
Stablemate Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) is also entered for the Derby, as well as the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the Gr.1 Seamarket Levin Classic (1600m).
Her next performance in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) will firm up future plans for the daughter of Myboycharlie.
She has won once from four appearances and last time out was luckless in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), in which she dashed home late for third after an interrupted run in the straight.
“She will run in the fillies’ race at Te Rapa and I think she probably should have won at Ellerslie. It was a painful watch,” O’Sullivan said.
Meanwhile, plans for multiple Group winner Dragon Leap (Pierro) are up in the air due to foot issues.
“He is a very unsound horse with big, flat feet and thin soles. We struggle with him a bit and originally we had looked to run him in the weight-for-age race at Te Rapa (Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint, 1400m), but he probably won’t get there. We just want to get him sound,” O’Sullivan said.
