Queen Rules At Riccarton

Emerald Queen became the latest black-type winner for champion sire O’Reilly with her runaway victory in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. At just her second appearance, the Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained filly romped clear in the closing stages to strike first blood in the NZ Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year series.

Fifth on debut at her only other appearance, Emerald Queen is raced by Kevin Hickman, who on Friday night was named the breeder and owner of the year at the South Island Racing Awards. Winning Spree was also honoured as the broodmare of the Year as the dam of Hickman’s outstanding Gr 1 New Zeland Derby winner Silent Achiever – who is also be O’Reilly.

O’Reilly was also on the board on premier day at Hastings where Brave Centaur upset his Rating 65 sprint rivals. Trained by Lance Noble, he is out of the unraced Centaine mare Centaurea and from the family of the stakeswinner and Gr 1 Telegraph Handicap runner-up Tootsie (Pins).