Blue Swede stakes his Derby claim

23 June 2015

Blue Swede is moving into the big time in Singapore following his latest success at Kranji. The WS graduate powered into contention for Group One honours with a sterling performance to win over 1600 metres on Sunday.

Shuffled back to the tail of the field, he was in desperate need of room on the point of the bend. Blue Swede’s rider Matthew Kellady was able to get him into the clear and the gelding produced a dazzling turn of foot to reel in his rivals.

Sold by the Matamata farm at Karaka in 2012 for $100,000, Blue Swede has now won six of his 14 starts for trainer and owner Shane Baertschiger. By O’Reilly, the four-year-old is out of the Zabeel mare Hooked Ona Feeling, he is a grandson of the dual Australian Group Two winner Ugachaka.

“We could have run him in the Patron’s Bowl but even with minimum weight, he would have had to contend with the likes of War Affair and it would have been tough,” said trainer and owner Shane Baertschiger. “Here, there was no weight and it was much easier race, so I’m glad I made that decision, but he will definitely be in the (Emirates Singapore) Derby as he is bred to run 2000m.”

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

5 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.