Royal Date For O’Reilly Colt

6 May 2013

Champion WS stallion O’Reilly will be represented at the highest level at this year’s Royal Ascot carnival. His three-year-old son Shamexpress is a confirmed starter in the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes on June 18 and will then stay on for an extended European campaign.

“We are under no constraint as to when he has to come home,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.

“With Star Witness he had to come home to get to stud. If this guy is in form, we might run him in the July Cup and possibly the Nunthorpe.”

Shamexpress won the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap at his last appearance at Flemington in March and will return to O’Brien’s stable this week after preparatory work at the trainer’s Barwon Heads property.

“He’s in really good shape,” he said. “He’ll have a jump out at Flemington a week before he gets on the plane.” Craig Newitt, who rode Shamexpress in the Newmarket, retains the ride in the King’s Stand.

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.