New Zealand’s 5 time Gr.1 winning ‘Horse of the Year’ Ocean Park achieved further honours last night when he was crowned the Champion Middle Distance award winner at the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards in .

As a three-time Group 1 winner in Melbourne during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival who achieved a culminating victory in the Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m), Ocean Park was a runaway winner with 226 votes, ahead of All Too Hard (99), It’s A Dundeel (87), Super Cool (43) and Pierro (34).

Source: www.racingvictoria.net.au

O’Reilly’s trans-Tasman Gr.1 galloper Sacred Falls will look to emulate the fellow WS-bred entire Kinjite with success in the Gr.1 Epsom Hcp at Randwick.

Kinjite – a son of former WS sire Centaine, won the Epsom in 1992.

On Saturday, the Chris Waller-trained Sacred Falls will be piloted by Kerrin McEvoy, who will steer him from barrier 9 with 56.5kg in the irons.

Savabeel’s latest rising star Éclair Big Bang staked his claim for top-level honours with a resounding victory in last Sunday’s Gr.3 Prelude.

The boom South Australian 3YO won for the third time in just four starts, putting his name firmly in the frame as a leading contender for the upcoming Gr. 1 Caulfield Guineas.

Trained by Phillip Stokes, Éclair Big Bang was purchased by his owner, Macau Jockey Club chief executive Thomas Li, at the 2012 Premier Yearling Sale for $280,000.

According to the Herald Sun, Stokes formed a link with the prominent owner many years ago and trained one of the many Éclair-named gallopers he owns - Éclair Sensation.

"He picked out this one. He seems to love eclairs and if they run like this, I'm not complaining," Stokes said.

Bred by Jason Abrahams, Éclair Big Bang is out of Singspiel mare Ennerdale.

Unbeaten O’Reilly filly Spellbinder staked an ultra- impressive claim for honours, winning last Saturday’s Listed Allied Workforce Soliloquy Stakes (3YOF, 1400m) at Ellerslie by 6.5 lengths.

Earning equal favouritism for the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas in the process, Spellbinder is raced by Te Akau Spellbinder Syndicate and is trained by Jason Bridgman.

Bred by Danny O’Brien, she is the 69th individual stakes winner for her sire O’Reilly and was astutely purchased by David Ellis from Mapperley Stud’s draft at the 2012 NZB Select Sale for $60,000.

This week we put 60 seconds of curious questions to successful Melbourne Trainer, Danny O’Brien

Favourite comfort food: Roast Lamb Favourite thoroughbred (s): Glamour Puss and Star Witness. Book on the bedside table: Rafael Nadal autobiography Favourite TV show: Seinfeld Not many people would know that I...: Have degrees in Law and Economics Concert you'd like to go to: Rolling Stones Favourite Movie: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kind Name one talent you possess: My wife Nina tells me I’m very good at making a mess. If you weren't in racing, you'd be: A History teacher. Defining moment in racing: Quinellering the 2007 with Master O’Reilly and Douro Valley. What do you do to relax: Play with my kids Thomas and Grace Favourite holiday destination: Italy Favourite restaurant: Euro in Auckland Favourite thing about Waikato Stud: Game Gully Best piece of advice: Be Patient.

Sunday’s Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner, Éclair Big Bang, provided an almost immediate endorsement for his dam Ennerdale’s return visit to last weekend.

Jason Abrahams’ well-related Singspiel mare Ennerdale visited Savabeel on Saturday - a mere 24 hours before Éclair Big Bang struck Gr.3 glory at Caulfield.

Ennerdale has a Hinchinbrook filly at foot (seen right) and has a Darci Brahma 2YO on offer at the 2013 NZB Ready to Run Sale.

SATURDAY GIRLS ONLY 11f Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) VRC 2:50pm Pins x Fabaz by O’Reilly DONNIE BRASCO 10c Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) Hawke’s 3:18pm O’Reilly x Cancan by Pins Bay WOLFWHISTLE 10c Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) Hawke’s 3:18pm O’Reilly x Legs by Pins Bay PINSTRIPE LANE 10c Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) VRC 3:25pm Pins x Singasong by Danasinga ORION 10g Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) VRC 3:25pm O’Reilly x Alzira by Bertolini BRAVE CENTAUR 07g Gr.3 Tumu ITM Spring Sprint Hcp Hawke’s 4:32pm O’Reilly x Centaurea by Centaine (1400m) Bay SPIN DOCTOR 07g Gr.3 Tumu ITM Spring Sprint Hcp Hawke’s 4:32pm Pins x Love The Limelight by Octagonal (1400m) Bay ANTONIO LOMBARDO 08g Gr.3 Tumu ITM Spring Sprint Hcp Hawke’s 4:32pm Pins x Petit Verdot by Carnegie (1400m) Bay TAURUS 08g Gr.3 Tumu ITM Spring Sprint Hcp Hawke’s 4:32pm No Excuse Needed x Stars In Her Eyes (1400m) Bay by Jetball PIMMS TIME 08f Gr.1 Turks Spring Classic (2040m) Hawke’s 5:12pm Pins x Brampton Legs by Bay SORIANO 09f Gr.1 Turks Spring Classic (2040m) Hawke’s 5:12pm Savabeel x Call Me Lily by Just A Bay Dancer SACRED FALLS 09c Gr.1 Epsom Hcp (1600m) Randwick 7:05pm O’Reilly x Iguazu Girl’s by Redoute’s Choice SANGSTER 08g Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) VRC 7:25pm Savabeel x Quinta Special by Spectrum QUINTESSENTIAL 08f Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) VRC 7:25pm Fast ‘n’ Famous x Florette by Sword Dance SILENT ACHIEVER 08f Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) VRC 7:25pm O’Reilly x Winning Spree by Zabeel EPINGLE 07f Gr.2 Blazer Stakes (1410m) VRC 8:45pm Pins x Etoile du Nord by Zabeel SUNDAY NANDOWRA 07g Sgp-1 Kranji Mile (1600m) Sing. 10:30pm Savabeel x Fabaz by O’Reilly SPEEDY CAT 08g Sgp-1 Kranji Mile (1600m) Sing. 10:30pm Scaredee Cat x Lane Cove by Magic of Sydney

Gr.1 broodmare Jacqwin produced a filly by O’Reilly last Sunday.

The filly is a half-sister to the four time Gr.1 winner Metal Bender and to the Gr.2 performed galloper, Southern Venture.

Jacqwin herself is a Bluebird half-sister to the Gr.1 racehorse and sire Keeper.

Jacqwin is booked to return to O’Reilly.

Waikato Stud sire Savabeel looks poised to play a leading role in spring features on both sides of the Tasman with strong representation in cups and classics.

The 12YO stallion is represented by the likes of Eclair Big Bang and Savvy Nature on the three-year-old front, while Sangster, Soriano, Classique Ivory and Surpass are older horses with further black-type assignments.

Savabeel is the sire of 27 individual stakes winners and commands an impressive 8.5% stakes winners to runners ratio.

(Click here to read more)

Source: NZTM

This week we introduce our Foaling Manager Lisa Beattie.

Lisa (seen left with last season’s foster mum extraordinaire Claudia), is renowned at the Foaling Unit for her calm, unflappable approach.

She is now in her 4th season at the Foaling Unit, with over 800 WS foals having started out their life under her care.

How did you get started: Despite not coming from a remotely horsey family, horses have been in my life for as long as I can remember. Experience prior to joining At 15 I got a full-time job riding trackwork and doing stud work at Evergreen WS: Lodge, where they stood One Pound Sterling, Icelandic and Llewellyn. After that I went to Drew Watson in Auckland for a few years, doing mostly trackwork and some breaking. From there it was on to Perth, where I rode trackwork for Jimmy Dickson (trainer of Perth’s Top 3YO, Concrete Crusher) for 2 years and then came to work at Durham Lodge for 2 years. Got into the Stud life Durham Lodge had both the racing and stud side to it. I was getting a little bit because: older and the ground wasn’t so soft anymore. Gradually I became more and more involved with stud side of things. How did you come to work I had worked with Waikato Stud’s Office Manager Glenda Knight at here: Evergreen Lodge. I mentioned to her that I might be coming home from Perth, so she spoke to Mark, who asked if I could caslick a mare. When I said yes he said ‘she’s hired’. Favourite things about The environment for the horses and the level of care given to each horse. Waikato Stud: Favourite Books: Tommy Woodcock’s autobiography and the 1982 NZ Racing Annual for the story it has on McGinty. Career Influencers Frank Wilson of Evergreen Lodge inspired me to work in the industry. Sue Johnson of New South Wales was another influential person. She is a terrific horse handler and taught me a lot about young horses. Job Highlights: Foaling a mare and then seeing her with a healthy, drinking foal. It’s a beautiful picture. The success of Waikato Stud’s foal fostering system is another highlight. Mark Chittick has fantastic knowledge and I have a learnt a lot from him. Favourite pastimes: Travelling around the New Zealand countryside on my days off and skyping with my kids Annette and Chris and with my Grandson Orlando. Favourite Restaurant: Jetties by The Sea in Perth. Favourite Thoroughbreds: Loughanure – I broke him in. His 5 black-type wins included the Gr.1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes. He was 2nd second on the 1980-81 2YO Free Hcp and was the 3rd top colt on the 1981-82 3YO Free H. & Northerley – amazing racehorses. Concrete Crusher – Perth’s Top 3YO who I rode in trackwork. Waikato Stud Golden Girls: Lodore Mystic, Gio, Jacqwin, La Cent, Rationable and Iguazu My Motto is: Stay calm and carry on. Favourite music: Led Zeppelin or the John Butler Trio Favourite TV Show: Nothing Trivial

2 stakes winners last weekend highlighted a “Special” connection with O’Reilly. The Listed RM Ansett Classic at Mornington was won by Crafty Cruiser, who is by Good Journey out of the O’Reilly mare Sly One. The Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie was won in exceptional style by O’Reilly’s daughter Spellbinder, who is out of the Scenic mare Scenic Sprint. Winning a stakes race by 6.5 lengths at just your 2nd career start is no mean feat so this filly looks to have a very exciting future.

The common theme in these 2 pedigrees is that they combine O’Reilly together with that wonderful and highly influential mare Special. The 2 main sources of Special in the breed are her son Nureyev and her grandson Sadler’s Wells. Results to date when combining O’Reilly anywhere in a pedigree with either of these stallions are very positive. When combined anywhere with Sadler’s Wells, the results are 12.1% SW/Rnrs, including The Pooka, Villifye, Annie Higgins and Spellbinder. When combined anywhere with Nureyev, the results are 10.1% SW/Rnrs, including Daffodil, Silent Achiever, Pussy Willow, Sound Journey, Diademe and No Excuse Maggie. Results that indicate in excess of 10% SW/Rnrs are very good results indeed, and are well worth taking notice of.

So, when planning your matings, it looks like a “Special” pedigree pattern to combine O’Reilly with either Nureyev or Sadler’s Wells. For your mares carrying either of these stallions, it is well worth considering O’Reilly. If you have an O’Reilly mare then sending her to any of Savabeel, Ocean Park, No Excuse Needed or Fast ‘N’ Famous would achieve the same pattern.

If you would like to discuss your mating options for this season, please feel free to contact me via phone (021 433 073) or e-mail ([email protected]).

Have just come in from the breeding shed. We bred 6 in 40 minutes – that’s some quick work right there!

An awesome weekend of sport just been, with some great results on the board for our supporters.

Special congrats to Jason Abrahams, who bred the exciting Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner, Éclair Big Bang.

Well done also to the Te Akau team who realised another smart O’Reilly stakes winner with Spellbinder. Interestingly, they’ve got another exciting O’Reilly in this weekend, with Legs’ son Wolfwhistle stepping out in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas.

Speaking of Legs, she tested 16 days positive to Ocean Park this week.

Nice results at the Inglis Sydney Ready To Race Sale for O’Reilly, Savabeel and Pins with progeny notably selling for $190,000, $200,000 and $120,000 successively.

All conditions suit Sacred Falls this week...

SACRED FALLS: Saturday - 7:05pm (NZ time) - Race 7 - Randwick