High Fashion Does It In Style

23 December 2012

High Fashion’s luck took a much-deserved turn for the better at Awapuni yesterday. The highly-regarded O’Reilly filly had struck trouble in the running in both the Gr 1 Bayer Classic and the Gr 3 Eulogy Stakes but this time she made no mistake with a comprehensive defeat of her fellow three-year-olds.

“It’s great to get her back to win and I’ve got a lot of time for this filly,” said trainer Kevin Gray, whose son Stephen signed for her for $30,000 from WS’s 2011 Premier Sale draft. “She’ll probably have a short spell now and we’ll be looking toward the Oaks with her.”

His sentiments were echoed by Hayden Tinsley, who guided High Fashion to a hollow victory. “I’ve always rated her quite highly and happy to stick with her,” he said. “She’s looking for more ground and 2400 metres later on shouldn’t be a problem.”

High Fashion is out of the Pins mare Pin High, who won three races up to 1600 metres. There is stamina in the pedigree as she is a half-sister to the Gr 2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Ultimate Aim, who also placed in both the Gr 1 Auckland and Gr 1 Wellington Cups.

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

5 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.