Hera strikes in Australia

6 November 2014

New Zealand mare Hera is on the board in Australia following her success at Rosehill on Saturday. The O’Reilly mare showed significant improvement on her resuming effort last month when she opened her account for Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees.

The four-year-old began her career with Roger James at Cambridge and was the winner of the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes at two. She bloomed in her classic season to add the Group Two victories in the Eight Carat Classic and the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic to her record. She was subsequently sold to Australian interests and a fourth placing in the Gr.3 Carr Stakes had been her previous best effort across the Tasman.

Purchased by James for $28,000 from WS’s Select Sale team in 2012, Hera is out of the unraced Centaine mare Corsica. She is from the family of the former champion juvenile and multiple Group One winner Ballroom Babe.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.

26 August 2026

Shailer pair building nicely into spring campaigns

WS-breds Justin Case and Magice contributed to a memorable season for Kris Shailer in his return to the training ranks last term, and he is hoping they can continue their form into the new season.