Oh So Close For Spending

10 June 2013

WS went close to repeating a past Creswick Stakes victory when their Pins filly Spending finished the closest of seconds in the Listed feaure at Flemington at the weekend. In 2009, the farm’s colours had been carried to victory by Glam Slam, also a daughter of their resident Snippets stallion.

Like Glam Slam, Spending is prepared on the track by Danny O’Brien after joining his stable following a trial win at home before Christmas. The three-year-old made an instant impact from her new quarters when successful on debut and was then turned out after two more appearances.

Spending resumed with a second at Caulfield before failing by the barest of margins to gain a black type honour on Saturday. She is a daughter of the Gr 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes winner Splashing Out, who is a three-quarter sister to the part WS-owned Gr 1 Doncaster Handicap winner Sacred Falls.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

27 October 2026

Ocean Park’s With Grace seals NZ Cup berth

South Auckland mare With Grace secured her berth in next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton when extending her winning sequence to four with victory in the Baker Tilly Staples Rodway 2100 at Te Rapa on Labour Day Monday.