Kashmir takes first winning step

25 March 2013

She’s bred to be good and at Matamata today Kashmir gave the first indication she can live up to her pedigree. The WS-owned daughter of O’Reilly and the stakes winner and multiple Gr 1 performer Vedodara was an effortless winner for trainer Roger James.

Spelled after two runs in the spring, the three-year-old showed a fine turn of foot from the top of the straight when asked for an effort by rider Opie Bosson. She quickly put paid to her rivals and coasted the post with a length and a-quarter to spare.

Kashmir is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Avondale Gold Cup winner Sharvasti, the dual Gr 3 King’s Plate and Cuddle Stakes winner Bhandara and the Gr 3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner Shastri. Gr 1 Easter Handicap runner-up Balmacara is another well-perfofmed member of the family.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

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.