Best yet to come from Group One filly
17 November 2013
Courageous filly Spellbinder became O’Reilly’s latest Group One performer when she finished third in today’s NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas. She sat outside the leader to the turn before being left in front and stuck grimly to her task down the long Riccarton straight.
Trainer Jason Bridgman, who also saddled the winner Costa Viva, was proud of Spellbinder’s performance and said the best was yet to come from the filly. “She was very game and she showed a lot of heart on a track that was a bit too good for her. When you see her up to 2000 metres at Ellerslie at Christmas time she’ll be a special filly.”
Spellbinder was unbeaten in her first two starts, including a Listed victory in the Soliloquy Stakes by a wide margin. She had rounded off her Guineas preparation with a runner-up finish in the Gr 3 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.
Recent News

23 July 2025
Baker and Clarke uncover another Super Seth standout
Shirley’s Tribute, a $225,000 Super Seth filly, impressed on debut at Bathurst for Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), surging from the back to score easily and notch her sire’s 44th winner.
Read More
15 July 2025
Kiwi Chronicles: Far from finished
Written by Lloyd Jackson, ANZ Bloodstock News on 15 July 2025 The older brigade knows that time is unstoppable and not just for we humans. Thoroughbreds are not immune and Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn …
Read More