Pedigree Picks with Mike Rennie – 31 May

Mike Rennie

Monday will see two new race day starters for Sacred Falls in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2yo maiden at Ellerslie.

Firstly, Vibrato. He has had multiple trials to prepare, winning both strongly this time in. He is out of the Pins mare Music who is in turn out of the Gold Brose mare Zamfir. Naturally, the O’Reilly/Pins nick is a well-tried one having produced 87 named foals for 75 runners; realising 74% winners and 6% stakes winners to runners; strong numbers.

Gold Brose has had a successful affinity with O’Reilly, albeit from small numbers, producing seven runners for five winners including a Group winner. No worries with Sacred Falls’ damsire Redoute’s Choice over the Pins line, Stratum Star and Sports Illustrated illustrate that.

The second runner is another WS-bred, Shoshone. She is out of the Zabeel mare Dee I Why who is out of the Defensive Play mare Playful Fingers. She has shown good ability and while the best will be to come, Ken Kelso is keen to give her some racetrack experience.

Zabeel, as we know, is an almighty influence and in this instance under the O’Reilly sire line averages 76% winners and 5% stakes winners to runners. Silent Achiever, O’Marilyn and Collar are the top examples. Defensive Play has nicked under O’Reilly to produce four winners from four runners.

The percentages are in their favour, so we watch with interest on Monday. Good luck to David Seldon and the team with Vibrato and Eddie, Maurie and the team with Shoshone.

Recent News
24 June 2026

Savabeel, from furthering a legacy to creating his own – The Straight

A true Australasian success story on the track and in the breeding shed, the influence of Savabeel, who died last week aged 24, will be felt for years to come on both sides of the …

Read More
23 June 2026

Sav’s final resting place

“I’ve got a couple of very special bottles of wine that I’ve had for a number of years, and usually they would have been opened on a celebration, but I thought it was very pertinent, and well, it was a celebration, it was a celebration of his life,” Mark Chittick told The Straight.

Read More