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The countdown to the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) will move up a notch at Te Rapa on Saturday when Waikato Stud’s runner Sought After lines up in the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m).

Sought After scored a highly impressive two-length win on debut at Taupo in September, and a month later he was selected to represent his owner-breeders Waikato Stud's slot in the NZB Kiwi on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The Tivaci gelding earned himself a place in New Zealand racing history as the first confirmed runner in the eagerly anticipated new slot race.

In two appearances since his stylish debut, Sought After was blocked in the straight when fifth at Te Rapa on October 12, then was tripped up by a Heavy8 track when sixth in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Aroha on October 30.

Sought After  will return from a freshen-up in Saturday's $65,000 race, which will be his first raceday appearance in 45 days.

"He won very well on debut and hasn't really had things go his way in his couple of starts since then," O'Sullivan said. "He had a bit of a freshen up in the paddock after the Sarten. He looks very well and we've been happy with how he's been working leading into his return to racing on Saturday. He's certainly going to be an interesting runner at Te Rapa.

"With Waikato Stud having selected him for their slot in the NZB Kiwi, his season has very much become a matter of trying to get him to that day in the best shape we possibly can. We still need to make a plan for some of the other races he'll run in between now and then, but we'll get Saturday out of the way first and then figure out the next steps from there."

The TAB rates Sought After a $14 chance for the NZB Kiwi, with the second confirmed runner, Canterbury Jockey Club's representative Domain Ace, sitting on a quote of $18.

Notably, Wexford Stables have their own slot for the NZB Kiwi, and their smart recent Ellerslie winners Checkmate and Sethito currently share $8 favouritism alongside Aeliana and Savaglee. O'Sullivan and Scott also have Prosegur and Hankee Alpha in prominent positions in the market at $10 and $14 respectively.

"It's exciting to think that we're going to have multiple runners in the race," O'Sullivan said. "A few of our three-year-olds have put their hands up with good performances in recent weeks, which has been great to see, and now we just have to hope they hold their form."

O'Sullivan and Scott won 66 races last season, which was a new record for their decade-long partnership, and they are well on track to set another new benchmark with 30 winners from just 136 runners so far in 2024-25.

They will have representation in two of Saturday's three black-type features at Te Rapa, with Sassy Lass lining up in the Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) while Karman Line, Kelly Coe, Little Bit Of Love and Uderzo contest the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).

"Sassy Lass got caught up in a bit of that interference in the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m) last start, and probably raced a bit fresh that day as well, with it being her first start in six weeks," O'Sullivan said.

"She's been in work for quite a long time now, but you wouldn't know it when you look at her. She's drawn well on Saturday, she likes Te Rapa, and we think she'll get her chance.

"Karman Line is getting up to her preferred distance on Saturday, but we are taking her on trust a little bit. She has worked better in the past than she has been lately. In saying that, she has shown a bit of a tendency to mix her work a little bit. We know what she's capable of when she brings her best form to the races, so we're just trusting that she'll do that.

"We considered the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) for Kelly Coe, but she's had a bit of a gap between races, so we decided to stick to the 1400m. She's going into this race in good order and has drawn the inside gate.