Change of stable for Waverley Star unconfirmed

Press, 29 April 1987, Page 35

Change of stable for Waverley Star unconfirmed

By Chris Mirams, of NZPA Wellington The Matamata trainer, Dave O’Sullivan, is unable to confirm reports in Sydney newspapers suggesting that Waverley Star is to change stables. Monday’s “Daily Telegraph” quoted owner, Mr Russ Hinze, as saying Waverley Star will spell on: his. Waverley Park Stud in Queensland, joining the fellow O’Sullivantrained and Hinze-owned Flight Bijou. The story went on to speculate that Hinze was comtemplating moving

Waverley Star to an Australian trainer with the possibility of a Brisbane winter campaign, followed by another bid at the Cox Plate and Japan Cup. The Australian newspaper' also ran a similar story saying that Hinze and his wife wanted to see the gelding run more often. Waverley Star has only had five of his 21 starts in Australia and Hinze has had to listen to his performances over the radio via a pre-arranged international telephone call,- ■■ Both stories speculated that Sydney Cup winning

trainer John Meagher would be given care of Waverley Star. Meagher is a close friend of the O’Sullivans and also prepares Hinze-owned gallopers from his Melbourne j base. Dave O’Sullivan could only confirm that Waverley Star would be spelling in Queensland. "I am not in a position to say anything,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything from Mr Hinze.” After Waverley Star’s unplaced run in his last Sydney start, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 11 days ago, O’Sullivan was

quoted as saying he thought the horse had bad enough of travelling and racing and was in need of a spell, contrary to the campaign speculated upon and outlined in the * Sydney papers. Wd ■ ' • . . Asked what he . thought was best for the horse at this stage O’Sullivan replied: “Whatever ?Mr Hinze wants.” / • O’Sullivan was very pleased with Waverley Star’s campaign, which netted over SNZ2OO,OOO, as he considered the horse to be only 80 per cent right. '