Racing: On Vacance to test O'Sullivan Ryder assault

WELLINGTON - Takanini two-year-old On Vacance could be the fly in the ointment of an O'Sullivan quinella in the Windsor Park Ryder Stakes at Otaki today.

Matamata trainer Paul O'Sullivan is making a rare raid on the listed Ryder Stakes with promising fillies Danasia and Scream, but they will face stiff opposition from the Bryan Wadham-trained On Vacance.

After a promising debut for fifth at Paeroa on May 28, On Vacance was a gutsy winner at heavy ground at Ellerslie on June 17.

At his only other start he ran seventh to Clear Advantage in the Breeders' Stakes at Ruakaka.

However, the run is best forgotten after On Vacance came out the stalls bucking and lost a conservative six lengths.

All of On Vacance's raceday appearances have been on rain-effected ground, but Wadham is confident the horse won't be tripped up by an easy track.

"He might jar on the hard tracks but easy won't bother him. Having said that I wouldn't mind some rain," Wadham said.

Wadham has left nothing to chance in his bid for a second Ryder Stakes win. He won it in 1984 with Great Chevalier, who then went on to win the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.

On Vacance was floated to Peter Hurdle's Awapuni stable on Sunday and has adjusted well to his new environment and running on a left-handed track for the first time.

Wellington Steeplechase-winning jockey Nathan Hanley has been riding the horse in trackwork at Awapuni but regular rider apprentice Sarah Boyd will continue her association with the horse.

"He's worked by himself and I've been really happy," Wadham said.

"He'd never galloped left-handed but you wouldn't know it."

Wadham said the outside barrier (14) was not ideal but if there was pace on Boyd's task could be made easier.

Levin jockey Darren Weatherley expects the Grant Searle-trained Fore Stay to be competitive.

Fore Stay was very hesitant in his debut run at Hastings but was far more professional at Trentham when winning from stablemate Bumper To Bumper.

"He really impressed at Wellington and his work has been up the mark since," Weatherley said.

"He's not one to work like a world-beater, he just does what's required. You could work him next to Sunline and he'd try his best to stay with her, but at the same time I could jump off and run alongside him in sandshoes. He's that type of horse."

Weatherley expects the good winter footing to suit his runner more than most.

"Bumper To Bumper would like it wet but it wouldn't bother mine.

"We're a show. There are no Willie Capones [smart two-year-old] in there and you could pick about six who would have a show."

The New Zealand trainers' premiership title was virtually sealed when Waikato partners Graeme Rogerson and Keith Hawtin produced a winner at Paeroa yesterday.

The win took their season tally to 59, six wins ahead of Mark Walker on 53. In third position is Paul O'Sullivan with 51 wins. Neither Walker nor O'Sullivan had any success yesterday.

Victory in the premiership will be Rogerson's eighth but it will be the first for Hawtin, who was taken into the partnership from the 1992-93 season.

There was no change at the top of the jockeys' premiership with boom apprentice Michael Walker sidelined with an injury suffered the trials on Tuesday. He will be back in action today.

- NZPA