O’Reilly Filly Novelty opens Win account with ease

4 May 2016

Novelty opened her account with a minimum of effort at Matamata this afternoon. The WS-bred and owned daughter of O’Reilly capped off three previous placings with an effortless victory over 1400 metres.

Settled in the trail by Leith Innes, the filly was coasting on the turn and she bolted clear in the straight. “We put the blinkers on today to get her up handy,” said Eddie Chippendale, who prepares the three-year-old with Stephen McKee. “It was a beautiful ride by Leith.”

She is the second foal of the Savabeel mare Promenade, who is a half-sister to the Group One winners Legs and Guyno. Cambridge trainer Roger James purchased the full-brother to Novelty at Karaka last year for $160,000.

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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.