Kelly does it for O’Reilly

22 November 2014

Kelly O’Reilly provided champion WS stallion O’Reilly with his latest black type credit when she rallied strongly to claim today’s Gr.2 NRM/Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Avondale. Out of a Pins mare, she is trained at Cambridge by Tony Pike for his parents Wayne and Vicki.

“She’ll obviously be going to stud at some stage so a win like this is very special,” Pike said. “I was hoping she would hold on for second and then she stuck her head down and came back.”

Kelly O’Reilly rallied bravely in the closing 100 metres under rider Leith Innes to score by a head. “I thought there would be plenty of speed in the race and Leith rode her perfectly,” Pike said. “She really deserves this – she’s a good, honest mare.”

She has now won seven races and is likely to progress toward the Christmas meeting at Auckland. “She can’t handle too many runs on firm tracks, but there will be a nice race for her over the Ellerslie carnival,” Pike said.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Hear the latest from Garry Chittick: If I had $10 million to spare, perhaps I would believe it might be better to speed up the remedial track work, or, I might have gathered breeders and found a way to underwrite a desperately needed sire.

28 July 2025

Waikato Stud claim 11th Breeder of the Year title

“On the farm there are now three generations of Chitticks involved, but I accept this award on behalf of Waikato Stud because we have got an unbelievable group of people who are just absolutely passionate about horses and Waikato Stud and about the success of the place,” Mark Chittick said.