| Dave O'Sullivan OBE | |
|---|---|
| Full name | David John O'Sullivan |
| Occupation | Racehorse trainer |
| Born | 1933 or 1934 (age 89–90) New Zealand |
| Career wins | 1877 |
| Significant horses | |
| Personal details | |
| Relatives |
|
David John O'Sullivan OBE (born 1933 or 1934)[1] is a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is notable for having trained Horlicks to win the 1989 Japan Cup and many Group One races in New Zealand and Australia as well as being inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.[2][3]
O'Sullivan started as an apprentice jockey and had 125 wins over a decade of riding. He won the 1953 Railway Stakes on Te Awa. He would go on to win the race six times as a trainer.[4]
He became a licensed trainer in February 1961.[5]
His first ever black-type win was Oopik ridden by then stable apprentice Peter Johnson in the 1973 Hawke's Bay Guineas. Oopik later won the 1976 Sydney Cup, ridden by O'Sullivan's first apprentice Roger Lang. The O’Sullivan/Lang combination also won with Shivaree in the 1979 Tancred Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Sydney.[6]
During his training career he won one premiership title independently (1978-79 with 62 wins) and eleven in partnership with his son, Paul O'Sullivan. He trained 1877 winners. In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, O'Sullivan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Thoroughbred racing.[7]
Dave's son, Lance O'Sullivan was a champion jockey and also inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame as well as being appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to thoroughbred racing 2003 New Year Honours.
Notable horses and victories
Dave O'Sullivan trained or co-trained a large number of high-class horses, including:
- Horlicks, winner of the 1989 Japan Cup and LKS MacKinnon Stakes
- Miltak, winner of the 1994 Auckland Cup
- Mr Tiz winner of seven Group One races including the 1991 Galaxy Stakes, Railway Stakes (1989-91) and Telegraph Handicap (1989, 1990).
- Oopik, winner of the 1973 Hawke's Bay Guineas and 1976 Sydney Cup
- La Souvronne, winner of the 1984 AJC Oaks
- Shivaree, winner of the 1979 Tancred Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
- Waverley Star
See also
References
- ↑ "Dave O'Sullivan 60 years at Karaka". LoveRacing.NZ. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ↑ "Racing Hall Of Famer Dave O'Sullivan reflects on his amazing career". www.sen.com.au.
- ↑ "Dave O'Sullivan - Racing Hall of Fame" – via www.youtube.com.
- ↑ "Yahabeebe, Legend of the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival". loveracing.nz.
- ↑ "Dave's Story".
- ↑ "Master jockey Roger Lang passes away". loveracing.nz.
- ↑ "No. 52953". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 13 June 1992. p. 30.