Group 1 targets abound for Waitak

Multiple top-flight winner Waitak will again front Wexford Stables’ spring attack, which will also feature a quartet of quality age group contenders.

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will tread a familiar path with Waitak, who is pleasing in his build-up toward a return in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 5.

Among the rising three-year-olds, winners Te Encuentro, Pounce and Dashing Dixie are all on target to reappear in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) at Taupo on August 16, while high hopes are also held for Fiamma.

“The team are really pleased with the way Waitak is coming along and he’s back doing a bit of fast work,” Scott said.

“We’re hoping to go on and trial him on August 16 at Taupo and we will look to kick him off in the Proisir Plate.”

All going well, Waitak will then defend his Group One titles in the Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and the Livamol Classic (2040m).

“It’s the same path as last year and fingers crossed, we can get similar results again with him,” Scott said.

“He’s had a good, long break and we were mindful of not over-racing him last season and he’s coming up really well again.

“He’ll be our only one in the Group Ones, it’s always hard when you retire the likes of Tomodachi, Lux Libertas and Grail Seeker, good horses like that are really hard to find.”