Doomben double for o’reilly

5 December 2015

Whakatoi produced the first winning strike of her career at Doomben yesterday to set up a winning double for the late O’Reilly. The five-year-old followed up a previous placing with success at her middle distance debut.

Trained by John Meagher with his sons Chris and Dan, the WS-bred mare was a $130,000 yearling purchase. She is out of the unraced Encosta de Lago mare De Lago Lady, who is a half-sister to the former champion two-year-old and multiple Group One winner Maroofity.

O’Reilly’s daughter O’Reilly Cyrus, another WS home-bred, later made the perfect start when she won the juvenile sprint on debut. Trained by Liam Birchley, she was a $100,000 purchase at Karaka last year for the Eagle Farm horseman.

O’Reilly Cyrus is out of the Masterclass mare Dancing Mistress, who is the dam of the stakes winner Savour The Moment (Savabeel). It is also the family of the Gr 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner O’Marilyn.

Mr Bombasa gives Banquo another winner

Three-year-old colt Mr Bombasa provided another winner this season for Banquo, who is having a watershed season with a Group 3 winner and performer also turning heads.

4 April 2026

Ardrossan’s son Cannon Hill wins en route to Gr.3 Easter Handicap

WS-bred Cannon Hill (Ardrossan ex Vanilla Essence) won on Saturday, setting himself up for the perfect run toward the Gr.3 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on 18 April for Tony Pike.