Daughter Of O’Reilly Impresses Again

 

Exciting O’Reilly mare Villifiye successfully rose to a significant challenge at Pukekohe this afternoon. The four-year-old jumped to Rating 85 company and headed a competitive line-up of sprinters to down the WS-bred and sold Pins mare Shandream with a spirited finish.

Trained by Graham Richardson at Matamata, Villifye is now unbeaten in three starts this preparation after clearing maiden ranks at Taupo and then claiming a Rating 70 event at Te Rapa last month. “Winning three in a row isn’t an easy thing to do and I think she’ll go over more ground,” Richardson said.

His expectations look likely to be met as Villifye, a half-sister to Gr 1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake, came with a sustained finishing run from the the top of the straight to nab the pacemaking Shandream. “We’ll have to make a few plans with her now and the Dunstan Stayers maybe,” Richardson said.

Further reasons to expect Villifye to handle middle distance assignments can be found in her pedigree. She is a grand-daughter of a Sir Tristram mare who is from the family of the multiple Gr 1 winner and successful sire Grosvenor and the Gr 3 Manawatu Classic winner Kyrie Eleison.