Bright Future For Talented Hera

14 May 2013

Promising filly Hera showed a measure of her family’s two-year-old ability with a strong win at New Plymouth on Saturday. The Garry Chittick-bred daughter of O’Reilly handled testing track conditions with ease to post the first victory of her career.

A $28,000 yearling purchase out of WS’s Select draft at Karaka last year for trainer Roger James, she is out of the Centaine mare Corsica and is a sister to the Hong Kong winner Telecom Top Star. It is also the family of the former champion juvenile and dual Gr 1 Ellerslie and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Ballroom Babe.

Placed at her three previous starts for James’ long-time owners Ron and Fran Dixon, Hera was given the perfect ride today by Darryl Bradley. They sat fourth on the outer before lengthening stride in the run home to win comfortably.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is not the easiest role, that of Chairman of our Thoroughbred Racing Board. Like all chairmanships, one’s mind is rarely not occupied with the responsibility. To our Chairman, I say thanks. A lifetime in the industry, Chairman of our largest club, it is difficult to identify someone more suited to the role.

14 May 2026

Sav’s girl Chispa targeting the Gr.1 Oaks

Savabeel filly Chispa enhanced her Queensland Oaks credentials with a dominant Randwick victory for Chris Waller and James McDonald, with the Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced filly surging clear over 1800 metres in impressive fashion.