Stable plotting Derby coup with maiden

23 February 2016

Splendido’s connections have designs on making the three-year-old O’Reilly gelding’s first victory a memorable one.

He has yet to break his duck in seven starts this season, but he is a stakes performer and will be making his second appearance at the elite level when he takes his place in the BMW New Zealand Derby on Saturday week.

“He’s perfect, right on target,” said trainer Bruce Wallace’s foreman Allan Peard.

Runner-up in the Listed BMW Salver, Splendido was then sixth when beaten four lengths by Kawi in the Zabeel Classic and he has finished runner-up at his last two outings.

“He was three wide the whole trip without cover last Saturday and only just got run down and his worst performance was in the Group One,” Peard said.

Currently a $31 hope in the Derby market, Splendido is raced by Wallace with Mark Wyborn, who is also a part-owner of the $8 chance Provocative.

– NZ Racing Desk.

Baker and Clarke uncover another Super Seth standout

Shirley’s Tribute, a $225,000 Super Seth filly, impressed on debut at Bathurst for Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), surging from the back to score easily and notch her sire’s 44th winner.

15 July 2025

Kiwi Chronicles: Far from finished

Written by Lloyd Jackson, ANZ Bloodstock News on 15 July 2025 The older brigade knows that time is unstoppable and not just for we humans. Thoroughbreds are not immune and Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn …