Dave O'Sullivan (horse trainer)

{{Short description|New Zealand racehorse trainer (1933/1934 – 2024)}}

{{Infobox horseracing personality

|name = Dave O'Sullivan

|honorific_suffix = {{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=85%}}}}

|image =

|caption =

|occupation = Racehorse trainer

|full_name = David John O'Sullivan

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|10|05|df=y}}

|birth_place = New Zealand

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|04|26|1933|10|05|df=y}}

|death_place = Matamata, New Zealand

|module = {{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes

|relatives = {{ubl|Lance O'Sullivan (son)|Paul O'Sullivan (son)}}

}}

|career wins = 1877

|race =

|awards =

|honours =

|horses = {{Hlist|Horlicks|Mr Tiz|Waverley Star}}

}}

David John O'Sullivan {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=85%}} (5 October 1933 – 26 April 2024) was 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/06/10/racing-hall-of-famer-dave-osullivan-reflects-on-his-amazing-career|title=Racing Hall Of Famer Dave O'Sullivan reflects on his amazing career|website=www.sen.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULUhGGCRvgU|title=Dave O'Sullivan - Racing Hall of Fame|via=www.youtube.com}}

Early life and riding career

O'Sullivan was born on 5 October 1933.{{cite web |url=https://watersonsfuneralservices.co.nz/funerals/osullivan-david-john-dave-obe/ |title=O'Sullivan, David John, (Dave) OBE |publisher=Waterson's Funeral Services |access-date=2 May 2024}} He started as an apprentice jockey and had 125 wins over a decade of riding. He won the 1953 Railway Stakes on Te Awa, and would go on to win the race six times as a trainer.{{Cite web |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/35313/YahabeebeLegendoftheEllerslieChristmasCarnival.aspx |title=Yahabeebe, legend of the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival |first=Tim |last=Barton |date=21 December 2022 |website=LoveRacing.nz |access-date=28 April 2024}}

Training career

In February 1961, O'Sullivan became a licensed trainer.{{cite web |url=https://www.wexfordstables.co.nz/blog/post/41050/Dave-s-Story/ |title=Dave's story |date=20 May 2019 |website=Wexford Thoroughbred Racing |access-date=28 April 2024}} 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 (ATC) at Sydney.{{Cite web |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/38299/Master-jockey-Roger-Lang-passes-away.aspx |title=Master jockey Roger Lang passes away |date=11 November 2022 |website=Loveracing.nz |access-date=28 April 2024}}

During his training career, O'Sullivan won one premiership title independently (1978–79 with 62 wins) and eleven in partnership with his son, Paul. He trained 1877 winners. In 1990, O'Sullivan was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=287}} In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Thoroughbred racing.{{London Gazette |issue=52953 |date=13 June 1992 |page=30 |supp=2}}

In 2021, it was noted that O'Sullivan had attended the National Yearling Sales for 60 years. When interviewed he stated the best horse he purchased there was Mr Tiz.{{cite web |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/32387/Dave-OSullivan-60-years-at-Karaka.aspx |title=Dave O'Sullivan 60 years at Karaka |date=25 January 2021 |website=LoveRacing.nz |publisher=New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing |access-date=13 August 2023}}

Death and legacy

O'Sullivan died on 26 April 2024, at the age of 90.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/dave-osullivan-a-legend-of-nz-horse-racing-dies-aged-90/KB74WSLTBZDX3AA24MZUIQLHME/ |title=Dave O’Sullivan, a legend of NZ horse racing, dies aged 90 |first=Michael |last=Guerin |date=26 April 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=28 April 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.racing.com/news/2024-04-27/news-trainers-kiwi-great-osullivan-passes-away |title=Kiwi great O'Sullivan passes away |date=27 April 2024 |website=Racing.com |access-date=28 April 2024}}

O'Sullivan's son Lance was a champion jockey who, like his father, was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/racing/3276616/O-Sullivan-hopes-Hall-of-Fame-retains-its-aura |title=O’Sullivan hopes Hall of Fame retains its aura |author=Rodley, Aidan |date=29 January 2010 |work=Waikato Times |access-date=28 April 2024}} Lance was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Thoroughbred racing, in the 2003 New Year Honours.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2003 |title=New Year honours list 2003 |date=31 December 2002 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=28 April 2024}}