Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
Plans have been made for Asterix and Dragon Leap to cross the Tasman this year, but first the stablemates face ultra-competitive line-ups in their respective Group One engagements at Te Rapa.
Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been more than satisfied with the duo’s most recent performances and both have trained on well ahead of Saturday’s challenges.
Asterix will head into unchartered weight-for-age territory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) with Craig Zackey booked for the ride, while Dragon Leap steps out in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) in the hands of Warren Kennedy.
Foot issues hampered Asterix in the wake of the son of Tavistock’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) triumph.
He was unplaced before Christmas in his first outing since his Classic win and then trounced his Rating 87 rivals over 1600m at Tauranga last month.
“It was pretty mediocre company, but he did it pretty easily and he’s going to have to step up on Saturday,” O’Sullivan said.
“He’s getting up to a distance that he is going to be comfortable at and at weight-for-age there’s a question mark, but we are really pleased with him.
“The plan is to go to Australia to Sydney in the autumn, that’s where we would like to end up with him. He’s got to show good form here to warrant travelling, of course.”
Should the trip eventuate, a possible race on Asterix’s program is the Gr.2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on April 1, a race the stable won with Charles Road in 2018.
“There’s a few options and one is the Chairman’s, he could go there and whether he runs in the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) we’re just not sure at this stage,” O’Sullivan said.
“We want to see how he measures up in weight-for-age company at Te Rapa and that will have a bearing where we head as well.”
Bred by Go Bloodstock NZ Ltd, Asterix was purchased out of Curraghmore's 2020 Ready To Run draft. – NZ Racing Desk
