Purchased from the O'Sullivan family by Hong Kong-based consortium Flying Class
New Zealand, the group will focus on developing a New Zealand operation that
will operate within the Australasian market whilst also supporting their Hong
Kong racing activities.Flying Class spokesperson Damian Yap was in attendance at the recently completed National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka and took time out to outline the immediate plans for the group.
"We have just completed the final sale process so we're currently undertaking a few renovations and alterations," he reported.
"We're hopeful to be up and running by March at this stage. There are still a number of details to confirm, least of all the announcement of a trainer for the operation. We should be in a position to do that in a fortnight or so."
Flying Class has also recently secured Queensland-based spelling and pre-training facility Washpool Lodge as part of their expansion plans.
"The purchase of Washpool Lodge and what was Wexford Stables will allow us to provide a base for our horses here and in Australia," he explained.
"The quality of horses being bred and sold in New Zealand is well recognised on the world stage and we intend to support local racing with the horses we have purchased. Having these strategic facilities means we can race our horses in Australasia while providing opportunities in Hong Kong for those we believe are suited to racing there.
"We expect to have around forty horses trained in Matamata for the group and other clients and we're excited about getting underway."
For many years the O'Sullivan family trained out of Wexford Stables, adjacent to the Matamata track, but the operation was shifted in 2014 into the complex previously used by John Sargent before he moved to Sydney.
The training partnership of Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott continue to operate under the Wexford banner and have prepared 11 winners from their new base this season. – NZ Racing Desk
