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
13 June 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

I gave The Corner a miss last week. After all, how could I compete with the expose Mike Guerin published in the NZ Herald. Let’s be fair, I am sure the two of you who …

Read More
12 June 2026

Friendships, fate and a first winner

Ocean Park filly Bridie delivered apprentice Tom Wingram his first career winner at New Plymouth today — a moment made possible by three decades of friendship and the racing gods aligning perfectly.

Read More