Outstanding New Zealand jockey Lance O'Sullivan added another feature
race to his already bulging highlights portfolio when he partnered Cyclades to victory in
the weekend's Wellington Cup at Trentham. In a
thrilling finish O'Sullivan and Cyclades got home over Ebony Honor and Blanchard to win
the Group One feature.
Cyclades' success was the second Group One win in five days
for O'Sullivan. On the preceeding Monday he rode home Vinaka to win the Telegraph Handicap
over 1200 metres.
The Wellington Cup success was Group One win number 56 for
Lance. In all he's ridden some 2106 winners on New Zealand soil. He is now just 51 wins
short of the all time New Zealand riding record.
Cyclades is owned by Don and Wendy Pye, local thoroughbred
owners from Auckland. Wendy is well known in literacy circles as the founder of Sunshine
Books - a company she began in 1986. Sunshine Books now exports to 21 countries around the
world.
After the win Don Pye described her gifted galloper as a
"horse of the people."
"What I like about this is that everyone has a chance in
racing," Pye said.
It was the other extreme for the gelding's virtual unknow
trainer Cynde Evans. Only in her second year of public training, Evans works part-time was
a vet nurse at a nearby guide dog breeding and hospital facility.
PIC - Quentin
Lang. |