LANDMARK LOWLAND TRIFECTA GIFTS O’REILLY ENVIABLE OAKS HAND

4 March 2013

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.

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.