LANDMARK LOWLAND TRIFECTA GIFTS O’REILLY ENVIABLE OAKS HAND

The remarkable one-two-three result of Saturday’s Gr.3 Bruce Perry Bloodstock Lowland Stakes (2100m) has gifted Champion sire O’Reilly an enviable hand heading into the Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks on March 16.

In a landmark first, three-year-old daughter High Fashion powered home to spearhead an all O’Reilly finish, with fellow progeny Chandelier and Emerald Queen chasing hard for second and third spot.

Not since Sobig in 1974 has one sire had such an impact in the race and even then it was a quinella.

Serving as a useful barometer to the Oaks, the last eight years has seen the Lowland unearth the eventual winner on three occasions, with Midnight Oil, Princess Coup and Justa Tad bearing direct testament to this. The record is bolstered further by the 2010 Oaks win by Keep The Peace, who finished second in her Lowland precursor.