Group Two quinella for O’Reilly

Champion WS stallion O’Reilly dominated the finish of the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday. His dashing daughters Hera and Spellbinder were a class above their rivals with the former turning the tables on their last meeting to take the top prize.

A $28,000 purchase for Roger James from the Matamata farm’s 2012 Select Sale line-up, Hera had won the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day before she was runner-up to Spellbinder in the Listed Karaka 3YO Mile. “I’ll probably put her aside now and look at Brisbane – a race like the Doomben Roses would suit her perfectly,” James said. “An extra three months will really help her.”

Out of the unraced Centaine mare Corsica, Hera is a half-sister to two winners and the family of the dual Group One winner Dandy Andy (Australian Cup, Doomben Cup).

Recent News
20 February 2026

NZ-made sire sensation Super Seth heads to Coolmore

“This is a massive achievement for the New Zealand industry, our fellow breeders and Super Seth’s shareholders who went all-in to help Waikato develop this world-class stallion,” said stud principal Mark Chittick, who retains a share.

Read More
14 February 2026

First Stakes Winner For Banquo

Waikato Stud stallion Banquo was a stakes winner on the track and now he has sired his first stakes winner as Kris Shalier’s Justin Case delivered a dominant performance to pull clear in the G3 …

Read More