The Mighty Spar posts deserved victory
The Mighty Spar hasn’t had much luck this preparation before the son of Savabeel turned his fortunes around at Otaki on Thursday afternoon.
Trained by Jamie Richards, the Waikato Stud-bred and sold four-year-old settled three back on the
fence before rider Joe Kamaruddin shouldered into the clear at the top of the straight.
The Mighty Spar produced a sustained finish for victory, his second from nine appearances which
include four minor placings.
Luck went his way today following tardy starts at Tauranga and Te Rapa from wide gates in his first
two outings this preparation and was then badly held up at Rotorua before powering home for
second.
The Mighty Spar was a high-priced Karaka yearling when purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for
$430,000. He is the first foal and only race day representative to date for the O’Reilly mare
O’Dianne.
She was successful on two occasions and fourth in the Karaka Million and is out of the G3 Frances
Tressady S. winner Breezy, a three-quarter sister to the dam of the G2 Cal Isuzu S. winner Sports
Illustrated and the family of the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft.
Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek
Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
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