Burbero brilliant at randwick

11 August 2015

O’Reilly was credited with further posthumous honours this afternoon at Randwick where his son Burbero turned in a blistering performance. The Bjorn Baker-trained representative was a dashing winner of the Gr 2 Missile Stakes in the hands of champion New Zealand apprentice Rory Hutchings.

The seven-year-old had drawn attention to his prospects with a second placing when resuming and went one better in style. Last on the turn, he weaved between runners and finished powerfully to claim top honours.

“He got to this level last time and his first-up run was good,” Baker said. “He looks like a fuzzy teddy bear with his long Kiwi coat so you wouldn’t have had him in the parade ring.”

Looks were deceptive though and Burbero posted the 13th win of his career for New Zealand owner Scott Richardson. During his last preparation, the gelding’s highlight was his victory in the Gr.2 Ajax Stakes.

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.