Think back to November 1989, the rich and prestigious G1 Japan Cup. A handful of New Zealand horses had taken the trip - The Filbert (NZ) (Souvran {GB}) third behind the local star Symboli Rudolf (Jpn) in 1985... but victory looked elusive.
Until Dave O'Sullivan, along with his training partner and son Paul, took Tokyo by storm with that wonderful grey mare Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) who raced away to an easy Japan Cup victory in world record time for the 2400 metres.
The success put on display not only the training skills of the O'Sullivans but also their horsemanship - a mirror placed in her box (along with scents of other horses) once it was realised that she was alone in her quarantine barn.
Horlicks (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Those talents were also on show with Horlicks earlier in her career, the mare having on-going issues with tying up... her trainers seeking international advice regarding her exercise and diet, getting the very best out of her.
Hall of fame induction
Inducted into the New Zealand Hall Of Fame in 2010, Horlicks - who won another five Group 1 races including the Mackinnon S. at Flemington - holds that honour along with her trainers and jockey; Dave and Lance admitted in 2006 - Paul last year.
Training successfully in Hong Kong for 18 seasons, Paul O'Sullivan returned to Japan in 2015, taking out the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) - also a dual Group 1 winner in Hong Kong and successful at that level in Singapore.
It was his years with Dave that instilled the love of horses and the skills to train at the highest level into Paul who, upon his father's death at the age of 90 last week noted that “there is a saying - that you are lucky to go to your grave with memories, not dreams - and Dad achieved that.”
Mistakenly believing that his family heritage was in Wexford, Ireland - later discovery that his roots actually lay in Waterford - Dave O'Sullivan established Wexford Stables in 1961.
“There is a saying - that you are lucky to go to your grave with memories, not dreams - and Dad achieved that.” - Paul O'Sullivan
That was on the back of a successful ten year career as a jockey - 125 winners with his biggest moment being a win the 1953 G1 Railway S. (a race he would go on to win on six occasions as a trainer) aboard Te Awa (NZ) (Foxbridge {GB}).
Not the ideal start
Subsequently helping around the stables run by his father-in-law Clarrie Davis, it did not take long for the ambition to train himself set in. His first day at the track was a warning that racing is never plain sailing - Poetic Justice a late scratching at the gates. Day two saw mixed fortunes - one horse hitting the lead only to collapse and die, the other two in the winner's circle.
Winning his first trainers premiership in 1978/79 with 62 winners, Dave was joined by Paul in 1981 and another eleven premiership titles ensued.
Horlicks was of course a highlight but there were many others. The stable had a dab hand with stayers, winning the 1976 G1 Sydney Cup winner Oopik (NZ) (St Puckle {GB}) and the 1979 G1 Tancred S. with Shivaree (NZ) (Sharivari {USA}) - taking out that race again in 1994 with the G1 New Zealand Oaks and G1 Auckland Cup winner Miltak (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}).
He also cheered home My Blue Denim (NZ) (A Chara {Ire}) to three Group 1 victories; a mare remembered for her game G1 Melbourne Cup second to Beldale Ball (USA) (Nashua USA}) in 1980. The stable also ran second in that big race five years later, Koiro Corrie May (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) defeated by What A Nuisance (NZ) (St Puckle).
Mr Tiz - Champion sprinter
One of New Zealand's finest sprinters also achieved much in the O'Sullivan stable - Mr Tiz (Bletchingly) winning 17 of his 36 starts including a record breaking three straight wins in the G1 Railway H.
Mr Tiz
Heading to Australia towards the end of his career, Mr Tiz charged home from a seemingly impossible position to win the G1 Galaxy in 1991 - a race which stuck in Dave O'Sullivan's mind.
Years later he recounted to the press - "I still can't believe how he won the Galaxy. He had ten horses in front of him and he nearly fell trying to make his run. It was incredible. I still get the video out from time to time and it never fails to amaze me."
O'Sullivan's WS Cox Plate
The G1 WS Cox Plate has been on the radar of New Zealand trainers since its early days and Dave O'Sullivan is a major part of its history - not only winning it in 1991 with Surfers Paradise (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}) but being part of one of its finest moments.
That oh so memorable clash between Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) and Our Waverley Star (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) in 1986; the pair taking off from the 800 metres, leading race caller Bill Collins to declare "here come the New Zealanders... have they gone too early?"
What a stirring battle it was, Bonecrusher getting the upper hand only late, the O'Sullivan trained Our Waverley Star having to settle with second - but in doing so he earned his place in racing history, that running of the Cox Plate fondly remembered as “the race of the century,” one in which Collins uttered his now legendary saying - “Bonecrusher races into equine immortality.”
Little wonder that Dave O'Sullivan was so happy to go one better in that great race five years later. Especially as he had been in the second horse's stall on other two occasions, with Shivaree in 1979 and Horlicks in 1998 - both horses defeated by champions; Dulcify (NZ) (Decies) and Our Poetic Prince.
O'Sullivan also cheered home Fire Commander (NZ) (Super Imposing {NZ}) in the G3 Waterford Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley the day Surfer's Paradise defeated Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing) in the Cox Plate and he was a happy man.
“I've been trying for twelve years to win a race at this track,” he told the press that day - “and now I've won two in three-quarter of an hour!”
“I've been trying for twelve years to win a race at this track (Moonee Valley),” he told the press that day - “and now I've won two in three-quarter of an hour!” - Dave O'Sullivan
Other outstanding gallopers sent out to big wins by the O'Sullivans include Cure (NZ) (Sir Tristram), La Souvronne (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}), Nimue (NZ) (Star Way), Popsy (NZ) (Sir Tristram), Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}) and Vialli (Ire) (Niniski {USA}) as well as a horse would leave a legacy as a high class stallion - the dual Group 1 winner O'Reilly (NZ).
Retiring from training in 1988 with 1877 wins under his belt, Dave O'Sullivan was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, two years later made made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to horse racing.
Paul Moroney - Memories of a training legend
Testament to his contribution is the number of racing people he successfully mentored, one of those being Paul Moroney whose memories of Dave O'Sullivan go back decades.
“I was at school with Paul and we became best mates,” Moroney recalled, excited as a horse enthused youngster to take up the offer of a stay at the stables.
“Dave and I hit it off immediately,” he said, “and I spent every weekend and school holidays working at the stables.”
Paul Moroney | Image courtesy of Inglis
Moroney was quite young (just 15) when O'Sullivan offered him a position of assistant trainer - Moroney declined, wanting to further his education and pursue a career in racing journalism - but he was happy to recommend his brother Michael.
After six months working as a stable hand, Michael Moroney was appointed O'Sullivan's first assistant trainer, ending up in a partnership with father and son before heading out on his own - proving himself to be one of Australasia's most successful and consistent trainers.
“A lot of Michael's methods are based on Dave’s," Paul Moroney said - “they are almost a blueprint, he just had to fine-tune things a bit for Australia.
“Dave has been a huge influence on Michael's career - and mine, he taught me so much about how to study horses. He had an incredible eye for them - an uncanny ability to sum up what was happening with a cursory glance.” - Paul Moroney
“Dave has been a huge influence on Michael's career - and mine, he taught me so much about how to study horses. He had an incredible eye for them - an uncanny ability to sum up what was happening with a cursory glance.
“He was known for changing a horse's programme just on the appearance of a duller than usual coat, a less glossy than usual eye.
“And he was so skilled in setting a horse for a race - he'd have them spot on for the day and he was meticulous with his training - and his feeding.
Michael Moroney | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He was not afraid to mix things up, to try new methods - including feeding his horses four times a day.”
And not only was O'Sullivan a trainer, but a lover of horses - “he became his horses' best friend,” Moroney said.
Everyone called him 'The Boss'
“Everyone who worked for him called him 'The Boss' and he was - he was extremely hard working and had high standards, and he expected others to live up to those.
“He was a driven, competitive man but never so much that he lost respect for - or of - his competitors.”
Moroney was also impressed by O'Sullivan's ability to get horses to achieve more than could normally be expected - "he had horses who as two-year-olds looked like they'd never run more than 1400 metres - and he had them winning stakes races over 2000 metres at three.
'The Boss' - Dave O'Sullivan | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“Never afraid to campaign his horses in Australia, he will be remembered as one of the greatest of New Zealand's trainers - he is a great loss.”
Dave O’Sullivan lost his wife Marie in 2015 and his daughter Lisa Chittick in 2014. He is survived by Paul, Lance, Mark and Debbie along with eleven grandchildren. It is bound to be a big turn-out fare welling this legend of the turf, as is well deserved.
