Mary Quant all class at Rotorua

18 October 2015

Royally bred mare Mary Quant has provided trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with a happy dilemma as they set about planning her upcoming summer campaign.

The daughter of super sire O’Reilly and multiple Group One winner Legs made her reappearance at the races a winning one at Rotorua on Saturday after having been off the scene since finishing well back in the Gr. 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) back in March.

The victory over 1200 metres in the NZB Insurance sponsored Pearl Series event was just what the doctor ordered although it did provide a few questions for her mentors as to where they should head with the mare over the next few months.

“She has come back much stronger after her winter break so we were hopeful of a forward showing on Saturday,” noted Scott after the performance.

“Lance rode her in a gallop on Tuesday and said she felt very well in herself so we expected to see her running on strongly.

“It was really a question of whether the 1200 metres might be a little short for her but a lovely ride by Lisa (Allpress) had her a perfect spot all the way and she was too good in the run home.

“On her last preparation you would suggest that she will be well suited over a middle distance later in this campaign however the turn of foot she showed could mean we are better focusing around a mile with her.

“I guess it’s a nice problem to have but we won’t be making any decisions like that until we see how she comes through this run.”

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Waikato Stud stallion Banquo was a stakes winner on the track and now he has sired his first stakes winner as Kris Shalier’s Justin Case delivered a dominant performance to pull clear in the G3 …

13 February 2026

Waikato invest in next generation with Return To Conquer to join its roster

Joining a long legacy of breed-shaping stallions to stand at Waikato Stud, three generations of the Chittick family have placed their confidence in Return To Conquer, with the A$1.3 million yearling and unbeaten Group 1-winning son of the four-time Champion Sire and Champion Two-Year-Old sire, Snitzel, to take his position on the Waikato roster in 2026.