Nolen on O’Reilly Cup Hopeful

25 October 2011

Champion Victorian hoop Luke Nolen has been booked to ride one of the few Australian-trained horses left in the Gr I Melbourne Cup (3200m). Australian Derby and Guineas winner Shamrocker was unplaced in Saturday’s Cox Plate and trainer Danny O’Brien booked Nolen to partner the mare in the world’s richest handicap.

The O’Reilly mare had previously finished seventh in the Gr I Turnbull Stakes (2000m) giving her form a striking resemblance to that of the last Melbourne Cup winner to come out of the Cox Plate. In 2007, Lloyd Williams’s galloper Efficient finished 11th in the Turnbull and ninth in the Cox Plate before producing a stunning turn of foot to win at Flemington. Interestingly, like Shamrocker, Efficient was a Derby winner in the season before tackling the Melbourne Cup.

Source: Racenet

Wee Nessy breaks her maiden in style

Savabeel’s three-year-old filly Wee Nessy impressed at Ellerslie, charging home to break her maiden in dominant fashion. The win marked Savabeel’s 1057th individual winner, with his progeny earnings surpassing $208 million as his legacy continues to grow.

21 April 2026

Golden Family Delivering for Waikato Stud

O’Reilly mare Gram may only be 10 years old, but she is already proving to be a powerhouse producer for Waikato Stud. From her first three foals she has left Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) hero …