CHRISTCHURCH - Prominent Matamata trainer Paul O'Sullivan is likely to operate a South Island satellite training centre at Riccarton next season.
O'Sullivan said from Sydney he would make a final decision on the stable and the personnel to operate it in the next few weeks.
"I have inspected the facilities which would be available to us at Riccarton and I'm impressed," O'Sullivan said.
"I would probably be in a position to confirm the new stable now if the staffing end were tied up, but it is not at this stage. In any case it will be months before horses are down there."
O'Sullivan is currently in a fierce battle with fellow Matamata trainer Mark Walker for the New Zealand trainers' premiership.
The Walker stable, which campaigned a number of horses in the South Island last autumn, considered a southern arm at one stage.
"We have sent a lot of horses down south which have won races. But it is the two and three year old racing which interests me most," O'Sullivan said.
"We have had fillies like Iguazu and Joan's Best go down and win series from Dawn and Peter Williams stable.
"Naturally my clients would like to have a crack at good black type races with their fillies in similar circumstances."
O'Sullivan said the growing list of bonuses available for young horses was also a factor.
He was not interested in running a big stable in the south.
"A horse which can win one up here can probably win another two down there.
"A placed maiden from the north should win one fairly easily in the south. But the ones worse than that are no more competitive in the South Island."
O'Sullivan is considering a smallish racing team operating at its peak in the spring and early summer.
Graeme Rogerson and Paddy Busuttin were notable operators of large satellite stables in the south in previous years, with Keith Hawtin and Jim Melton respectively among the foremen. Both stables ended their associations but largely because of falling opportunities on country circuits, especially in open class racing, and staff problems.
O'Sullivan is on a flying trip to Sydney to inspect Muhlan and Pravda, both spelling there.
"Pravda came out of the Sydney Cup with a throat infection. The owners will decide whether to shoot for the Metropolitan Handicap or start in the Melbourne Cup."
O'Sullivan is to transfer four horses from his Matamata team to Sydney this week.
They include Falls The Shadow, a Dance Floor gelding from former star filly Kate's Myth, the Last Tycoon filly Whisp, and Kidd.
- NZPA
Racing: O'Sullivan eyes southern base
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