December 29 – Sad news from Yarraman Park on Friday that former brilliant juvenile Clan O’Sullivan has passed away after a spending his last few years in retirement at the Mitchell family owned farm.
Owned throughout his career by Guam based racing enthusiasts Mr and Mrs Ken Jones, 18 year-old Clan O’Sullivan was one of the superstar juveniles of his year winning seven of nine starts highlighted by a five length victory in the Magic Millions Two Year Old Classic on the Gold Coast.
Prepared at Queanbeyan by astute conditioner Frank Cleary, Clan O’Sullivan targeted the Canberra Black Opal Qualifier and Black Opal Stakes after his MM success, winning both by a combined margin of seven lengths.
Sent to Rosehill for his next assignment in the Group Two STC Todman Slipper Trial, he led throughout to win by five lengths and was installed even money favourite for the Golden Slipper.
The powerhouse son of Zoffany (USA) attempted to lead throughout again and was thwarted only by champion filly Burst, who nailed him to win by half a length and then went on to win the Triple Crown for juveniles, while Clan O’Sullivan headed for a deserved spell.
Their experiences with Clan O’Sullivan inspired Mr and Mrs Jones to have another crack at winning a Golden Slipper and in 1999 that dream was realized when Frank Cleary claimed Australia’s premier juvenile event with the Danehill (USA) colt Catbird.
Retired to Yarraman Park in 2000, Catbird proved a resounding success at stud prior to his premature death earlier this year.
Clan O’Sullivan will be sadly missed by the team at Yarraman having been on the farm since September 2004, thoroughly enjoying his retirement years with Group One stars Assertive Lad and Primacy.
