O'Reilly (horse)

Last updated
O'Reilly
OReilly racehorse.jpg
O'Reilly on pasture
Sire Last Tycoon (Ire)
Grandsire Try My Best (USA)
DamCourtza (NZ)
DamsirePompeii Court (USA)
Sex Male
Foaled24 August 1993
Died31 December 2014(2014-12-31) (aged 21)
CountryNew Zealand
BreederWaikato Stud Holdings Limited
OwnerGary J Chittick
Trainer Dave and Paul O'Sullivan
Record6: 4-1-0
Major wins
Levin Classic (1996), Telegraph Handicap (1997)

O'Reilly (24 August 1993 - 31 December 2014 [1] ) was a New Zealand bred and trained thoroughbred racehorse who won two Group 1 races.

Contents

O'Reilly was bred by Waikato Stud Holdings Limited. His dam, Courtza, was the winner of the 1989 Golden Slipper Stakes. He was named after the Irish international rugby player and businessman Tony O'Reilly. [2]

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

O'Reilly 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. [3]

On 15 February 1997, he placed second to Mouawad in the Australian Guineas 1600m at Flemington Racecourse.

However, during his next start, in the 1200m Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, he ruptured a suspensory ligament which finished his racing career after only six race day starts.

Remarkably, O’Reilly was New Zealand Horse of the Year for 1996 and 1997, champion sprinter, and champion miler. [4]

Stud career

After sustaining an injury that caused him to retire from racing, O'Reilly was put to stallion duties at Waikato Stud. [5]

O'Reilly proved to be very successful as a stallion and ended up standing for a fee of $60,000.[ citation needed ]

Notable progeny

O'Reilly has produced 15 individual Group One winners:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

FoaledNameSexDamDam SireMajor Wins
1999The Jewel [6] fThe GrinGrosvenor New Zealand 1000 Guineas
New Zealand International Stakes
2001Swick [7] gCreme Anglaise (NZ)Crested Wave VRC Sprint Classic
2002 Fellowship gMystical FlightDanzalion Hong Kong Stewards' Cup
2002 Master O'Reilly gWithout Remorse (NZ) Bakharoff (US) Caulfield Cup
2003Guyno [8] gRiver CenturyCentaine WATC Derby
2004Alamosa [9] cLodore MystikCentaineFord Diamond Stakes
Thorndon Mile
Otaki-Maori Weight for Age
Toorak Handicap
2007Shamrocker [10] fBohemian BluesBlues Traveller (Ire) Australian Guineas
AJC Derby
2008 Silent Achiever fWinning Spree Zabeel New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Stakes
Ranvet Stakes
The BMW
2009 Sacred Falls cIguazu's Girl Redoute's Choice New Zealand 2000 Guineas
Doncaster Handicap (twice)
George Main Stakes
2009Shamexpress [11] gVolkrose Volksraad Newmarket Handicap
2011O'Marilyn [12] fMonroe Magic Zabeel Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
2013MacO'Reilly [13] gDouble BabuCentaine New Zealand International Stakes
New Zealand Stakes
2013Tiptronic [14] gTiptoesPins Herbie Dyke Stakes
Zabeel Classic
2014 Grunt cRuqqayaVan Nistelrooy Australian Guineas
Makybe Diva Stakes
2015Brutal [15] cAlberton Princess Golan (Ire) Doncaster Handicap

He was New Zealand's top sire in 2007/08, 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14.[ citation needed ]

As a Dam Sire

Daughters of O'Reilly have produced stakes winners such as:

Sire sons

A number of sons of O'Reilly have become sires: [16]

See also

Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

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References

  1. "New Zealand Champion Sire O'Reilly Dies". Blood Horse. January 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. "Hall of Famer O'Reilly stands proudly over son's Karaka debut". 9 February 2018.
  3. "Leading NZ sire O'Reilly dies at 21". January 2015.
  4. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
  5. O'Reilly (NZ) 1993 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ
  6. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/209935/The-Jewel-NZ-1999.aspx
  7. https://www.racing.com/horses/swick-nz-2001
  8. https://www.racing.com/horses/guyno-nz-2003
  9. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/241092/Alamosa-NZ-2004.aspx
  10. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/256985/aus-Shamrocker-NZ-2007.aspx#bm-overview
  11. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/271558/Shamexpress-NZ-2009.aspx
  12. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/299559/OMarilyn-AUS-2011.aspx#bm-overview
  13. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/233008/MacOReilly-NZ-2003.aspx
  14. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/319870/Tiptronic-NZ-2013.aspx
  15. https://www.breednet.com.au/horse/brutal
  16. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/172521/OReilly-NZ-1993.aspx#bm-sons
  17. https://www.breednet.com.au/sire/alamosa
  18. https://www.wellfield.co.nz/Alamosa/overview
  19. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/323181/OReillys-Choice-NZ-2013.aspx
  20. https://www.breednet.com.au/sire/sacred-falls
  21. https://www.racingnews.co.nz/waikato-stud-mourn-the-loss-of-sacred-falls/
  22. https://loveracing.nz/Breeding/271558/Shamexpress-NZ-2009.aspx
  23. https://www.windsorparkstud.co.nz/shamexpress