WS family serving trainer well

20 February 2017

Singapore trainer Shane Baertschiger’s success with a WS family continued at Kranji on Friday night. He produced the consistent O’What A Feeling to win for the second time in his relatively brief career.

Baertschiger bought the son of O’Reilly at Karaka in 2014 for $100,000 having secured his brother two years earlier for $150,000. Racing as Blue Swede, his initial purchase has won seven races and has been placed in the Singapore Gold Cup.

They are out of the Zabeel mare Hooked Ona Feeling, who is also the dam of the multiple winners Bishops Castle and Line Seeker, also both by O’Reilly. Their second dam is the dual Australian Group Two winner Ugachaka.

The latest family winner O’What A Feeling has been honest throughout his career to date. Aside from his two wins, a further five placings from his 11 appearances emphasises his genuine nature.

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.