In-form Frankly chasing stakes start

7 August 2014

John Bary was left to rue a missed black type opportunity with Frankly at New Plymouth and now he’s looking forward to another chance at Awapuni. The Hastings trainer had expected the Pins mare to be competitive in a recent Listed feature sponsored by WS.

“I was very confident for the Opunake Cup, but she couldn’t get off the ballot,” he said. “I was very bullish that week and we had to regroup. I think she’ll be better over a mile or 2000 metres so we’ll have a look at the Merial Metric Mile with her.”

Bred and raced by WS, Frankly again showed she was ready for the challenge of better company when she scored an impressive win at Hastings this afternoon in the hands of Miranda Dravitzki. “She just bided her time and then came out – that was a 10 out of 10 ride,” Bary said.

Frankly has now fashioned the tidy record of four wins and nine placings from 15 appearances to further a strong family record. Out of the O’Reilly mare O’Really, she is a half-sister to six winners including Keano (Listed Lightning Handicap).

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.