O’Reilly mare blossoming

Claddagh (Photo credit: Race Images Photos)

Beautifully-related four-year-old Claddagh is starting to do her rich pedigree justice with further success at Pukekohe today.

The daughter of Waikato Stud’s late champion stallion O’Reilly hinted at her staying potential last season.

She was successful over 2200 metres, and after two preparatory runs this campaign, won over the same trip at the Counties meeting.

Claddagh is trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and races in the colours of breeders Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan.

She is a daughter of the Danehill mare Love Diamonds, whose yearlings have sold up to $640,000.

That was the figure the China Horse Club went to for Savabeel filly Queen Of Diamonds.

She won this season’s Gr.2 Lowland Stakes and the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes and has twice been Group Two-placed.

Love Diamonds is a half-sister to the Group One winning siblings Diamond Like and Viking Ruler.

Recent News
18 December 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Another year nearly passed, I could never work it out when my parents would express the view on how the years passed so quickly. When young, one always looked forward to the next happening; it seemed we waited forever. Now I dwell on the past and want it to last forever. 

Read More
16 December 2025

Villing Ram Impresses In Trial Victory For Noverre

Having finished fourth in his first trial back in September, the Paul Pertab-trained Noverre colt Villing Ram upped the ante on December 16, scoring an impressive two and a quarter length win in just his …

Read More