By MIKE DILLON
Lance O'Sullivan did not achieve his much-awaited target at Matamata yesterday.
O'Sullivan is looking forward to equalling or bettering Bill Skelton's lifetime 2156 career wins at Tauranga on Saturday after landing a winning treble yesterday.
With only two wins to equal that record, O'Sullivan's target looks achievable.
"I went in to
today thinking I could possibly win three and that's how it turned out," said O'Sullivan after scoring with Galway Lass, Danasar and Hidden Factor.
Mark Walker was the hero of the day when he walked away with the $10,000 on offer for a trainer winning three or more races.
Walker had a nervous time, having to wait until the last race when Galadriel ran away for an easy win.
"I am so pleased with this win because Galadriel's owner Rodney Schick and I have been mates for years," Walker said.
Schick is the son of Windsor Park proprietors Nelson and Sue Schick.
Walker would have been unlucky to miss the $10,000 bonus.
Top Spinner almost certainly should have won race four instead of losing by a nose after being pushed wide on the home bend.
Walker was particularly pleased Flash Red was able to overcome a wide barrier and win the juvenile race.
"He was a real handful earlier in the season. We are really lucky he had quality trackwork riders, because you never knew when you had him on the training track."
Walker said he would spell Flash Red.
Danasar proved once again the benefit of the hole-in-the-windpipe operation when he raced away for one of O'Sullivan's wins.
He has a three from three record, although he lost one on protest.
O'Sullivan's chance of beating Bill Skelton's record this weekend took a hammering when Cinder Bella was withdrawn from the $100,000 Japan/New Zealand International Trophy at Tauranga on Saturday, but he will ride stablemate Rodin.
Andrew Calder, who was to have ridden Rodin, was suspended at Matamata yesterday.
In typical style, O'Sullivan is trying to play down his chance at record-making on Saturday.
Don't buy into that.
