O’Reilly mare claims Pukekohe feature

24 November 2013

O’Reilly mare Annie Higgins look set to bring further stakes honours to her champion sire in the coming months. The Lance Noble-trained six-year-old came with a powerful late burst to win today’s Gr.3 Counties Cup with the promise of more to come.

Annie Higgins was making the third start of her current campaign and off the back of her narrow victory at Pukekohe she will next defend her Gr.3 Waikato Gold Cup title. ““She needed every bit of the 2100 metres today so it’s onwards and upwards now to the 2400 metres of the Waikato Cup.”

Ridden by regular partner Leith Innes, Annie Higgins took time to wind up in the straight and arrived late to snatch a narrow victory. “That was heart in the mouth stuff, but Leith (Innes) timed it to perfection,” Noble said. “She’s a really tough and honest mare and gives 100 per cent every time.”

Porcia Catonis powers home as Super Seth’s rise continues

Super Seth’s strong run continues with Porcia Catonis, who delivered a dominant win at Riccarton for Fortuna Racing. The lightly raced filly is now a two-time winner and adds to a stellar season for her sire, who boasts three Group 1 winners and a 4.34% G1 winners-to-runners strike rate.

28 May 2025

Gutsy bebut win for Ardrossan’s Macallan

Ardrossan’s son Macallan impressed on debut in Thursday’s opener at Tauranga, overcoming Heavy10 conditions to win the Tierra Maiden 3YO (1200m) by 1.3 lengths. Trained by Wexford Stables and racing for JML Bloodstock, the gelding showed toughness and class to finish strongly before the meeting was abandoned due to weather.