Novelty adds to family record

28 December 2016

Novelty went one better than her sibling today when she scored a clear-cut win at Rotorua. The daughter of O’Reilly is raced by WS, who bred and sold her brother and New Plymouth debut runner-up Boomerang, a $160,000 Karaka yearling.

Trained by Stephen McKee, Novelty has now won two of her eights starts. The four-year-od was given an economical run in the trail by Opie Bosson and they quickly put the issue beyond doubt once they had angled into the clear at the top of the straight.

She is out of the Savabeel mare Promenade, who is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner Legs. WS will offer a younger brother (Lot 355) to Novelty and the Roger James-prepared Boomerang, who is nominated for the Gr 1 NZ Derby, during the Premier Sale at Karaka next year.

Back to Savabeel news

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

5 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.