O'Reilly (horse)
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| O'Reilly | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Last Tycoon (Ire) |
| Grandsire | Try My Best (USA) |
| Dam | Courtza (NZ) |
| Damsire | Pompeii Court (USA) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 24 August 1993 |
| Country | Australia |
| Breeder | Waikato Stud Holdings Limited |
| Owner | Gary J Chittick |
| Record | 6: 4-1-0 |
| Major wins | |
| Levin Classic (1996), Telegraph Handicap (1997) | |
O'Reilly (foaled 24 August 1993) was a New Zealand bred and trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won two Group 1 races in a career that was cut short by injury but then went on to become a successful sire.
O'Reilly was bred by Waikato Stud Holdings Limited. He was entered in the 1995 Karaka Yearling Sales but was unable to be sold when he failed a veterinary test, due to an abnormality in his larynx, so he was retained by his owner, Gary Chittick.
Racing career
He was initially placed with Melbourne trainer, Gerald Ryan, but due to injuries was put out to paddock for eight months. After his rest he was then trained by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan at Matamata and ridden in all his races by Lance O'Sullivan.
In the November 1996 Bayer Classic Group 1 event for 3 year old horses at Otaki he beat High Return and Rebel.
In January 1997 he contested the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham, an open handicap event over 1200m, winning by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:07.36 over Krispin Klear and Jazzac.[1]
On 15 February 1997 he was second to Mouawad in the Australian Guineas over 1600m at Flemington.
But unfortunately at his next start, the 1200m Newmarket Handicap at Flemington he ruptured a suspensory ligament in the Newmarket Handicap which finished his racing career after only six race day starts.
Remarkably O’Reilly was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year for 1996/97, champion sprinter, and champion miler after he won four races.[2]
Stud career
After being forced to retire from racing, O'Reilly was put to stallion duties at Waikato Stud.
O'Reilly proved to be very successful as a stallion and ended up standing for a fee of $60,000. His winners included:
- Alamosa.
- Fellowship
- The Jewel.
- Shamrocker.
- Final Destination.
- Silent Achiever.
- Sacred Falls.[3]
He was New Zealand’s top sire in 2007/08, 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14.[4]
O'Reilly died on 31 December 2014[5]
References
- ^ https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2015/01/02/leading-nz-sire-oreilly-dies-21/
- ^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
- ^ "Hall of Famer O'Reilly stands proudly over son's Karaka debut". Waikato Stud. February 9, 2018.
- ^ https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/109891/new-zealand-champion-sire-oreilly-dies
- ^ "Champion stallion O'Reilly found dead". Stuff. December 30, 2014.
O'Reilly (NZ) 1993 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ
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