Checkmate to Take Wexford Stables Slot for NZB Kiwi

Media Release - Friday January 17

Wexford Stables have an enviable cohort of three-year-olds in their care this season, which made selecting a $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) representative a challenging task for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

But with the interests of the remainder of the group in mind, Wexford have announced that their hugely-promising galloper Checkmate will fill their slot in the inaugural running of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race.

Wexford Stables has announced Checkmate as their $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) representative. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Checkmate has made just five appearances to the races, and in that time has made a big impression with three victories, including the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) and an open three-year-old 1500m last Sunday at Ellerslie.

Advertisement

The O’Sullivan and Scott partnership already have Sought After in the feature under Waikato Stud’s slot, and the former is hoping others in the stable will get their opportunity with the son of Mongolian Khan locked in.

“We have some nice horses there and we felt it was best to state who we were going to take in case anyone else had any interest in the others,” O’Sullivan said.

“That was one of the reasons why we went early, but in saying that, Checkmate is a horse that gets around Ellerslie, which is important. He’s won at the trip and just ticked a lot of boxes.

“He should acquit himself well, we’re happy with him and his condition, although he’ll have another run before then. We’re still undecided where (he will race next), we have a couple of options to work through, but the horse will tell us what he needs.

“He’s a nice horse for the race and one of many chances.”

A former champion jockey and multiple Group One-winning trainer, O’Sullivan is looking forward to seeing what the race does for an industry he has spent most of his life immersed in, and more importantly, having the Wexford brand play a major role.

“It’s exciting to have the biggest prizemoney in the southern hemisphere for three-year-olds, who would’ve thought that would happen,” he said. “It’s great for the industry, it’s new and creates a lot of interest.

“It’s important for Wexford, we wanted to be a part of the big dance and to have two horses in the race, it’s fantastic. It’s nice to be able to produce horses that warrant running in the big event.

“We’ve had a long time for everyone to put forward their horse and make decisions in which way they’re going to go. It’s like jockeying for positions really.

“It’s going to be a very exciting day.”

Owned and bred by Okaharau Station, Checkmate currently holds equal favouritism for the NZB Kiwi at $8, alongside the TAB slot-holder Evaporate and star colt Savaglee. The race will be run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Autumn Over for O' Ole and Blitzburg
The autumn is over for Magic Millions winner O’ Ole, while another Sydney Blue Diamond hopeful, Blitzburg has also been ruled out with a bone chip.
One to Watch – Wyong
When you see Darby Racing, Bjorn Baker and a blue hen, how can that mix not produce a winner?
Golden Crop is Gift That Keeps Giving
When talented three year-old filly Written Scandal bolted in at Wyong on Thursday to win by nearly six lengths she became the 60th winner from that one golden crop of foals by champion sire Written Tycoon that were conceived at Arrowfield Stud in 2020.
El Vencedor Invited to Hong Kong
In-form gelding El Vencedor will get his chance to test his talent in one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world when he heads to Hong Kong in April to contest the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
Te Akau G1 Winner Captured By Love Ready for Aussie Challenge
The Listed VRC Desirable Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday will see an intriguing clash between a pair of Group I winning fillies with MRC Thousand Guineas winner Another Prophet to be taken on by Group I NZ Thousand Guineas winner Captured By Love.  
Sires With Winners - Wednesday February 12
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wexford filly proves She’s All That
Promising filly She’s All That rewarded the patience of her connections as a fitting winner of the Wexford Stables (1400m) at Te Aroha on Wednesday.
Punters Taking Sides in Via vs Ceolwulf - Don't forget FannyG
Saturday racing at Randwick sees some of the biggest of the autumn carnival big guns firing their first shots, and hours after the fields were declared the markets were offering up an opinion, with plenty of love for Via Sistina in the Apollo Stakes.
Lightning Stakes Showdown for Bloodstock Super Powers
The Group I VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday features $1million in prizemoney, so is a nice enough prize to win, but from a bloodstock perspective this race has the potential to be pivotal.
Quiet Achiever Finds Classic Favour
As the dust settles from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this week there was a notable success story in the value sire sector of the market with 100% clearance for this sire, who managed to average $105,909 off an $11,000 fee, so who was he?