Millionaire galloper Vigor Retired

7 September 2011

The curtain has come down on the racing career of the well-performed Vigor whose record failed to accurately reflect his talent. While eight victories, seven placings and stake earnings of nearly $1.2 million are impressive, they could have made even better reading.

The WS-bred and sold son of O’Reilly was in peak form in the spring of 2009 when he beat the crack mare Typhoon Tracy to claim the Gr 2 Makybe Diva Stakes, but trainer Danny O’Brien said little went right for the gelding after that. “He drew the outside barrier when he ran third in the Caulfield Cup, then didn’t gain a run in the Melbourne Cup,” he told the Herald-Sun. He was a highly-fancied contender for the Flemington feature but the VRC refused to use it discretionary power to elevate him into the final field.

Vigor, whose retirement had been forced by a growth in his throat. was purchased by O’Brien out of WS’s 2006 Premier Sale consignment for $65,000. He is out of the Housebuster mare Rationable who has been an outstanding producer for the Matamata farm.

She is also the dam of Vigor’s brother Joey Massino (Gr 2 Avondale Guineas, Gr 3 Wellington Stakes, Listed Champagne Stakes) and No Excuse Needed half-brother Vincent Mangano (Listed Karaka Million, Wellesley Stakes, Counties Challenge Stakes, Pegasus Handicap). It is also the family of Gold Onyx (Gr 1 Greyville Champions’ Stakes) and Amalfi (Gr 1 VRC Derby).

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.