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

The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.

12 August 2026

Classy Debut Victory For Major Beel’s Brother Savagram

From a pedigree known all too well by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, 3yo Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) kicked off his race career in the best possible way, highlighting himself as a potential black-type performer.