Doubles for trainers and stud
Roger James and Robert Wellwood had a pair of Waikato Stud graduates to thank for a winning double at Awapuni today.
The Cambridge training partners saddled Killarney and Hanger and both produced impressive displays.
The O’Reilly six-year-old Killarney has had his share of issues, but his talent can’t be questioned.
A $115,000 Karaka yearling, he has now won five of his 12 starts and could be in line for higher honours.
“He’s had a lot of soundness issues and it’s a big shout out to the staff who have spent a lot of time with him,” Wellwood said.
“Fingers crossed he comes through this well and then we might have a throw at the stumps and a decent race for him.”
Killarney is out of the Irish Colleen, who won seven races including the Gr.2 Concorde Handicap.
Hanger returned from a lengthy break in a blaze of glory and he’s another more than capable of potting bigger prizes.
“He hadn’t raced or had a trial since the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, he’s had a few niggles along the way,” Wellwood said.
Hanger is a son of the Savabeel mare Do Ra Mi, who won the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes and ran second in the Gr.3 Vanity Stakes.
She is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip and the Listed Hong Kong winner Unique Jewellery.
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