O’Sullivan doubles up at Sandown with classy mares

Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan would love the Melbourne Racing Club to hold more Saturday race meetings at Sandown. That’s no surprise, given he notched a running double today.

Matriarch Rose, ridden by Jaylah Kennedy, wins at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan would love the Melbourne Racing Club to hold more Saturday race meetings at Sandown.

It comes as no surprise after he prepared a running double with mares Way Up High and Matriarch Rose at Saturday’s meeting on the Hillside track.

Sandown only holds two Saturday meetings per season but O’Sullivan joked he would enjoy making the trip from Ballarat to the spacious venue more often.

“More racing at Sandown on a Saturday, I reckon,” O’Sullivan said.

O’Sullivan’s double continued a strong recent run of form for the stable with results since April 1 belying the fact the trainer has 17 horses in work.

Matriarch Rose and Way Up High’s dual strike gave O’Sullivan five wins and three minor placings in city races in the last seven weeks.

“It’s been a good little run,” O’Sullivan said.

Punters had contrasting opinions of O’Sullivan’s chances at Sandown.

Way Up High will stay all day & she gets another win at Sandown 🆙 @[e-mail]/jBKkmeSrUd

— Racing.com (@Racing) May 25, 2024

Senior rider Zac Spain steered Way Up High to win the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Handicap (2400m) while Matriarch Rose claimed the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) as the $3.70 favourite with apprentice Jaylah Kennedy in the saddle.

Matriarch Rose had no luck early as Kennedy was forced to negotiate a wide trip on the four-year-old before the mare’s light weight helped her overcome the difficulty.

“To Jaylah’s credit, she didn’t panic when she got posted out there three-deep,” O’Sullivan said.

“We thought that might happen but with the 52.5(kg), it was important that she kept her balanced.”

The big girl Matriarch Rose gives @DOSullivanRace another winner at Sandown 💪 @jaylahkennedypic.twitter.com/yMXJvtd4Vg

— Racing.com (@Racing) May 25, 2024

O’Sullivan said Way Up High was a later developer than Matriarch Rose, of whom he had always had a high opinion.

“If you had asked me 12 months ago whether Way Up High would have got to Saturday grade, I would have said maybe,” O’Sullivan said.

“But this filly (Matriarch Rose), I always thought she’d at least get to Saturday grade.

“We’ll aim really high now. We’ll give her a break and prepare her for the spring.”

Originally published as O’Sullivan doubles up at Sandown with classy mares