RIP DJ O’SULLIVAN

[MrBigStuff 402]

Thoughts with family and friends…in my opinion our best ever trainer!

[scooby3051 11,026]

Very sad news have not seen this anywhere...thoughts and prayers with his family at this time may he forever rest in peace.

[Friend Family 195]

An absolute gentleman and a great trainer to boot.

RIP Dave you champion.

FF....admiration in the highest esteem.

[THE TORCH 690]

Very very sad to hear.

[scooby3051 11,026]

Now he is what is called a true horseman and a legend of the industry.

[Memphis3 1,276]

RIP champion trainer of some absolute champions. 

[Pete Lane 672]

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/legendary-new-zealand-racehorse-trainer-dave-osullivan-dies-aged-91-20240426

[gubellini 4,030]

Pete Lane Dave turned 90 on October 5 last year. Master trainer.

[Pete Lane 672]

Yeah the story is titled 91 and then says 90.

[Chestnut 3,171]

An absolutely lovely man, who was always kind to me and that means a lot when you're a young lass working with the horses. Will always be remembered fondly.  Great understanding of horses and their temperament.   A true horseman.

 

[MissJools 520]

#RIP Dave O'Sullivan, finally reunited with Lisa and Marie.  As well as the many amazing Horses you trained including Mr Tiz, Horlicks as well my favourite, O'Reilly. 

[scooby3051 11,026]

Training great Dave O’Sullivan passes away
By Dennis Ryan
The racing industry is mourning the death of training great Dave O’Sullivan, 90, following his
passing on Friday.
David John O’Sullivan, OBE and New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame member, first made his
mark as a jockey before increasing weight forced his hand to take up training in 1961.
From humble beginnings he established Wexford Stables as a force throughout New
Zealand, in Australia and as far afield as Japan where he and his sons – training partner
Paul and stable jockey Lance – were to share in the crowning glory of victory with Hall of
Fame racemare Horlicks in the 1989 Japan Cup.
Tough times shared with his wife Marie and backed by a fastidious approach exemplified by
the O’Sullivan motto “Even if a horse isn’t the best in the race, it should still look the best”, he
forged an outstanding career underlined by 1,877 wins by the time he retired in 1998.
O’Sullivan’s first major win was the 1973 Hawke’s Bay Guineas with Oopik, who was to add
the 1976 Sydney Cup, the first of many major wins in Australia.
Countless notable performers both at home and in Australia included Hall of Fame sprinter
Mr Tiz, Waverley Star, Surfers Paradise, Shivaree, Blue Denim and Miltak.
Known universally by his initials DJ, he won his first trainer’s premiership with 62 wins in the
1978-79 season and added another 11 titles in partnership with his son Paul, who was to
become the first New Zealander to be granted a licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
O’Sullivan and his champion jockey son Lance were honoured for their respective
achievements as inaugural New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductees in 2006, and were
joined by Paul and the O’Sullivan-mentored Mike Moroney in the 2023 Hall Of Fame
inductees’ draft.
Fellow Hall of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs, a contemporary of O’Sullivan during his many years
training in Matamata, is one of many paying tribute to the much-admired trainer.
“DJ got his licence about 18 months before me and although we were both very competitive,
we became good friends,” Gibbs said.
“He was an outstanding horseman with a huge work ethic and attention to detail, and he can
take credit for raising the bar for the rest of us.
“He dragged me up to improve and I have to say I was lucky to be training in the same era.”
Having celebrated his 90 th birthday late last year, O’Sullivan’s health deteriorated recently
and he passed away at his Matamata home in the company of family members.
“Dad would be the first to admit he had a wonderful life,” his son Lance said. “He was a
world-class horse trainer and highly competitive, but most of all for us, he was a wonderful
family man.
“He worked hard and expected others to as well, but he was always very fair. I would
describe him as one of the last living legends of the old school.”
O’Sullivan’s funeral will be held at 11:30am this coming Thursday, May 2, at the Church of
the Holy Angels in Matamata.

[MissJools 520]

For those who are unable to attend Dave "Sullivan' funeral on Thursday it will be livestreamed ( although this will be dependant on there being a cellphone internet connection) if there isn't, the service will be recorded and uploaded to Vimeo afterwards. Here is the link to Waterson's funeral services, to watch the live stream, just click on watch the service on Thursday O'SULLIVAN, David John, (Dave) OBE - Watersons Funeral Services. 

 

[Palliser 772]

Greatly admired this man, an absolute legend. And I bet he was super proud of his sons who will carry on the legacy. Condolences to all the family