The Corner with Garry Chittick
The impact of an individual horse on our sport can have significant and lasting results. My Corner has, by and large, shied away from marketing Waikato Stud; however, O’Reilly is very special to us, and the performance of his grandson has prompted me to remind the two of you why I so often include him in my ramblings on the male effect on our industry.
O’Reilly was a loose type, 16-1 with a casual walk. You would have been pretty mean-spirited not to like him – his nonchalant personality meant he was easy to manage. On type, you would not have picked him to put away the Telegraph field over 1200 metres in 1-07.3. For those of you not at Trentham on the day, I can assure you there was no tailwind but a strong Westerly, which was more confronting than helpful.
Watching Ka Ying Rising, his ease of movement reminded me of O’Reilly, his control of the race made a good field look just ok. The day of the Telegraph, Dave O’Sullivan did not attend, but told me the night before that he was unbeatable. Now, we all know how often the unbeatable are beaten, 150 metres out I wouldn’t have invested my hard-earned on, but prevail he did.
His racing career was cut short, just six starts – who knows what heights he may have reached. That’s why it is so gratifying to be part of the mark he has fashioned since.
His 96 stakes winners include 15 Group 1 winners, including Newmarket winner Shamexpress – we are a shareholder in the Windsor Park-domiciled sire. His numbers are not outstanding suggesting that, while not infertile, he is not easy. As often is the case, it’s a case of what if? Nevertheless, he has produced a champion, and a fair dinkum one at that.
Fortunately, O’Reilly avoided reproductive problems, clearly. I have long held the view that there are very few sires who produce above-average sires. I won’t dig into the stats, you can do that, O’Reilly had his share of opportunities: Alamosa, Sacred Falls, Shamexpress, Grunt, Brutal spring to mind with success among them.
Remarkably, his daughters to date – and still producing – have 96 stakes winners, 16 of whom have saluted at Group 1 level. Fortunately for Waikato, the Savabeel/O’Reilly cross is running at 14% stakes winners to runners – a little bit of interesting info.
Incidentally, New Zealand’s leading race caller challenged a cluster of race goers, including me, with the question: “What country has produced the last three consecutive highest-rated sprinters in the world?” I Wish I Win, Lucky Sweynesse, Ka Ying Rising, proudly wear NZ saddlecloths. Not bad for a country equally renowned for our middle-distance reputation.
I think that’s enough for now because the story has more to go.
Now, The Everest, well, we weren’t in attendance this year after participating in the previous two years, but how I wish we were. What a day of racing, what an atmosphere, Sweet Caroline brought a tear when on course. I managed my emotions better at home. Ceolwolf, Linebacker, Mr Brightside, Pier, Jimmysstar flew the flag proudly for NZ.
Ka Ying Rising will, with his rhythmic stride, continue to do his breeders proud. We will continue to thank the veterinarian who failed O’Reilly for sale – he has filled our tenure at Waikato with 30 years of pride, and it’s not over yet.
Cheers,
G
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