Wexford Stables look to have a strong hand in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday where they will be represented by Group One winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and Group One performer Dragon Leap (Pierro).
Waitak will be seeking to return to his winning ways for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, having finished eighth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa earlier this month having posted back-to-back wins in his previous outings, including the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.
“Waitak is flying, he is really going well,” Scott told TAB NZ. “He got three wide in the Waikato Sprint and had a tough gig there, but he pressed on well and his sectionals were still really good.”
Stablemate Dragon Leap will be out to continue his great association with Ellerslie, having experienced a memorable three-year-old season on the track, having won the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), placed in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m), and finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
The seven-year-old gelding has been unplaced in his three starts this summer, after experiencing a successful spring where he won the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).
“Dragon Leap is going well, but he is just having no luck,” Scott said. “He came home the quickest last 400m of the race (in the BCD Group Sprint), but he just got out wide where they weren’t winning on that day. Opie (Bosson) is back on and he has a great affinity with the horse.
“We are pleased with them both. They are both holding up to the summer racing well, so they should sprint well again. They just need a bit of luck.”
Waitak is currently a $4.20 second favourite behind last start Group One winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) ($2.50), while Dragon Leap is the third equal fancied runner alongside Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) ($5).
