Smart day at the Office for O’Reilly

13 October 2012

Vitalico completed a smart day at the office for O’Reilly on Friday, with three winners being struck across Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

The 7YO galloper Vitalico produced a gritty win at Kranji for Mark Walker, who has conditioned the Danica Guy-bred galloper to two wins from his last three starts.

Earlier in the day, the 4YO Ward completed a trans-Tasman double for WS when he furthered his record at the Wyong meeting. Following on from the domestic success of Magic Tricks at Tauherenikau, he continued his progress with success over 1600 metres.

Trained by Graeme Rogerson and Lee Freedman, Ward now has two wins and four placings from his six starts with his only form blemish an unplaced run on debut last year. A $115,000 purchase for Rogerson out of WS’s 2010 Select Sale consignment to Karaka, the entire is a son of the Kinjite mare Activate, the winner of six races.

She is a three-quarter sister to the Gr.2 Sha Tin Vase Trophy and Gr 3 Wellington Stakes winner Astimonti and is also the dam of the multiple winner Jack’s Point (Pins). He is trained by Lisa Latta who also prepares half-brother Attivaree (O’Reilly), a placegetter at two last season.

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.

9 July 2026

WS graduate Honour Roll out to add stakes success at Otaki

Waikato Stud will be cheering on one of its promising graduates on Friday when Honour Roll contests the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The WS-bred son of the late Champion sire …