O’Reilly Strikes Again

29 March 2014

In the wake of Silent Achiever’s Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes win last weekend, 2YO daughter O’Marilyn has just won the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in fine style.

Three wide the trip, the field had no answer when she laid down the gauntlet shortly after turning for home, ultimately careering away in the hands of Sam Spratt for a commanding win.

Trained by Stephen McKee and raced by Trevor McKee, O’Marilyn has now won two of six starts and hinted to supreme Gr.1 ability with previous placings in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes and in the (R) Listed Karaka Million.

O’Marilyn is bred by Whakanui Stud and is the third Gr.1 winner out of the Zabeel mare Monroe Magic – the other two being Headturner (AJC Derby) and Anacheeva (Caulfield Guineas).

She represents O’Reilly’s 15th individual Gr.1 winner, his 72nd individual stakes winner, his 10th individual stakes winner this season.

Interestingly, this O’Reilly/Zabeel cross – which was also to the fore with Silent Achiever last weekend, is strongly distinguished by a staggering 13.0% Stakes Winners-to-Runners ratio.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.

21 October 2026

Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter

Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.