3 minute read
Strata Lady could evoke emotional birdcage scenes if she can secure success in Saturday's Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders' Stakes.
The Stratum filly races in the colours of the O'Sullivan family, who on Thursday farewelled their matriarch Marie O'Sullivan in a funeral service at Matamata.
Strata Lady's co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan this week described his mum as the "driving force" behind the family's success.
"She steered the ship and she was the one to go to for advice,” O'Sullivan told The Informant.
“She was a very intelligent woman, but most of all she was a great mother and a wonderful grandmother. We were all blessed to have her.”
The O'Sullivan family has long been leaders in the sport, with Marie's husband Dave then son Paul becoming champion trainers. Lance became a champion jockey before turning his hand to training and his sister Lisa Chittick was a partner in Waikato Stud before her death last year.
Lance O'Sullivan's training partner Andrew Scott said the stable was hoping for a fitting win with Strata Lady in Matamata's most prestigious race of the year.
"It would be wonderful if Strata Lady could get up for Marie. It would be quite emotional," he said.
Strata Lady was a smart 3 1/4-length winner at Awapuni on debut before finishing sixth in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie, a run Scott believed could be the making of the filly.
"It was a really brave run and she was pretty inexperienced, only having one run under her belt," Scott said.
"I thought she competed really well and she'll be so much better having that experience under her belt.
"We were very happy with the way she worked on Tuesday morning. The racing doesn't appear to be knocking her around. Her condition and work has been pleasing."
O'Sullivan and Scott will also saddle Link Road in the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m) at Matamata, the other juvenile stakes race on Saturday.
"We took him to [Ellerslie on] Boxing Day and he got a little bit lost. He slipped at the start and lost his way a wee bit but he's improved any amount with that experience under his belt and then he came out at Te Rapa and it was a good strong win that day," Scott said.
"Fingers crossed they both run well and keep going the right way. There's some big two-year-old races coming up over the next couple of months so hopefully they keep on improving and race well."