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.

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.