Hooked on winning

23 March 2015

WS graduate Blue Swede continued his march through the grades in Singapore last night. The O’Reilly four-year-old was successful for the fifth time in 11 appearances when he won over 1600 metres.

Originally sold by the farm as a yearling in 2012 at Karaka for $100,000, he was later purchased by Shane Baertshiger for $150,000 at the Ready to Run Sale. Such has been Blue Swede’s progress that his trainer bought the full-brother for $100,000 during the 2014 Premier session.

They are out of the unraced Zabeel mare Hooked Ona Feeling, who is a daughter of the dual Australian Group Two winner Ugachaka. The pedigree also features the former Singapore Horse of the Year Bocelli.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.

21 October 2026

Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter

Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.