WS Plays Hand In Memorable Win

28 February 2013

Hard-working jockey Brad Rawiller reached a milestone yesterday afternoon and had a WS graduate to thank for it. Bishops Castle by O’Reilly credited the Victorian rider with the 2000th winner of his career when successful at the Sandown meeting.

Rawiller has been best known for his close and successful association with former star galloper Weekend Hussler. He rode him to 11 of his 12 wins including the Caulfield Guineas, Ascot Vale Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, Randwick Guineas, George Ryder Stakes and the Underwood Stakes at Gr 1 level. He has also won a Golden Slipper on Phelan Ready and a Caulfield Cup aboard Viewed.

“I was thinking about 50 metres out about giving a salute but decided not to,” he said. “I’ve done enough saluting. I probably should have but the stewards might not have been happy.”

Victory for the three-year-old came at his fourth appearance after placing in the previous three for Flemington trainer Michael Moroney. A $170,000 purchase by Moroney’s brother Paul from WS’s 2011 Premier Sale line-up, Bishops Castle is a son of the unraced Zabeel mare Hooked Ona Feeling. She is in turn out of the dual Gr 2 Edward Manifold and Queen of the Turf Stakes winner Ugachaka (Danasinga) who is a half-sister to the Gr 3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes winner Country Rose (Centaine).

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

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.