Photo: Trish Dunell
Wexford Stables have moved on from the unfortunate circumstances that blighted Asterix’s last outing and the talented son of Tavistock remains on target for the Sydney autumn carnival.
It’s a case of forgive and forget for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner, who had a valid excuse when he finished well off the pace in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
Asterix pulled a plate at Te Rapa and a post-race veterinary examination found him to be lame, but he has quickly bounced back and will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe.
“He threw a shoe in the Herbie Dyke and if ever a horse didn’t want to lose a shoe it would be him, he feels his feet a bit and we’ve put a line through that day,” Scott said.
“We galloped him this morning with Dragon Queen, that good horse with Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, and he went really well beside her.
“We’ve got him sound again and he’s better for recent racing. We hope he can be a surprise package at the weekend, he is a talented horse and we think he will acquit himself well.”
That being the case, Asterix will cross the Tasman to make his Australian debut at Randwick on April 1 in a race the stable won in 2018 with Charles Road.
“We’re hoping it is another stepping-stone toward Sydney and running in the Chairman’s Handicap (Gr.2, 2600m),” Scott said.
“If he was to perform well, then I’m sure the connections will certainly look at the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).”
Bred by Go Bloodstock New Zealand Ltd, Asterix was purchased by Bruce Perry out of Currahmore's 2020 Ready To Run draft. - NZ Racing Desk
