Group One for O’Dianne

6 March 2015

O’Dianne will move back up in grade following her maiden success at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

Fourth in the Listed Karaka Million, the youngster led all the way to be rewarded for four previous placings and trainer Stephen McKee is now keen on Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes start.

“I think she’s a touch better left-handed,” he said. “She deserves a crack and she’s maturing all the time.”

O’Dianne was ridden by her regular partner Sam Spratt, who said it was a straightforward victory.

“She was just cruising all the way, hugged the rail and did it nicely. She’s a big, strong girl.”

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It would appear I now have to continue my weekly Corner with the amount of rumblings at the start of our new racing season. I have been around long enough to know we can never please all; my tenure as Chairman of the Racing Board was subjected to as much vitriol as subsequent Boards have had to bear, so what’s different this time, or is it different.

5 August 2026

First foal for Waikato’s Group 1 winner Skew Wiff

Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Skew Wiff (ex Starvoia), known affectionately as ‘Wiffy’, foaled a filly by Super Seth in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August.