O’Reilly colt shines in Group One

3 March 2018

The late O’Reilly earned posthumous Group One honours today when his son Grunt reigned supreme in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. He stamped himself as a colt of the highest quality with his fourth consecutive win to remain undefeated this preparation.

“He got into a good spot and he still had to tough it out, he’s a beautiful, big Flemington horse,” trainer Mick Price said. “The only race I would go forward to is the Rosehill Guineas, but I am mindful that he is going to make a really good four-year-old.

“I wouldn’t worry if I put him out, he still hasn’t furnished yet. I think this horse has got 2000m in him, he might have 2400m or two miles even. He is a really good colt.”

A $220,000 Karaka purchase by astute Bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke and trainer Mick Price, Grunt is from the family of Waikato Stud’s exciting young sire Ocean Park and was ridden by Damien Oliver. “We had a lovely run and when I pulled him out and asked for an effort he fought them off,” he said. “He’s a magnificent specimen and deserved a Group One.”

Ocean Park Trans-Tasman Double

With Andrew Forsman’s 3yo Ocean Park filly Pine Leaf breaking her maiden by a widening four and a quarter-lengths in the last at Cambridge on Wednesday, celebrations continued as just ten minutes later it was the Chirs Waller trained Velaris who saluted at Canterbury with fellow Ocean Park runner I Park finishing a gallant third.

14 July 2026

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.