Nolen on O’Reilly Cup Hopeful

25 October 2011

Champion Victorian hoop Luke Nolen has been booked to ride one of the few Australian-trained horses left in the Gr I Melbourne Cup (3200m). Australian Derby and Guineas winner Shamrocker was unplaced in Saturday’s Cox Plate and trainer Danny O’Brien booked Nolen to partner the mare in the world’s richest handicap.

The O’Reilly mare had previously finished seventh in the Gr I Turnbull Stakes (2000m) giving her form a striking resemblance to that of the last Melbourne Cup winner to come out of the Cox Plate. In 2007, Lloyd Williams’s galloper Efficient finished 11th in the Turnbull and ninth in the Cox Plate before producing a stunning turn of foot to win at Flemington. Interestingly, like Shamrocker, Efficient was a Derby winner in the season before tackling the Melbourne Cup.

Source: Racenet

Ready to Run wrap up for 2025

Buyers decended on Karaka for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale last Wednesday, 12 and Thursday, 13 November in search of their next Feroce (Super Seth), Force Of Nature (Savabeel), etc., where the progeny of Savabeel, Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park and Noverre were well sought-after – we took a deep dive into the results.

21 November 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Mary and I attended the races at Pukekohe ten days ago. I enjoy Pukekohe; I like being able to sit where you view the track on a slight angle as the horses approach the winning post. Of course, I enjoyed it even more when both Smart Love and Magice won their respective events.