breednet.com.au

When a Good Broodmare Sire Becomes a Great One

Tara Madgwick - Monday March 22

Results from the past weekend have highlighted a fact we probably already knew, but there’s no harm in heaping praise on a stallion that’s deserving.

Both the New Zealand Oaks (Amarelinha) and Hong Kong Derby (Sky Darci) were won by horses bred from daughters of O’Reilly, the former by Savabeel and the latter by Darci Brahma, their success prompting us to look a little closer at the mighty stallion O’Reilly.

Four time Champion New Zealand sire O'Reilly.

A four time champion New Zealand sire, O’Reilly died in 2014 after a long and productive stud career at Waikato Stud.

By champion shuttle sire Last Tycoon (IRE) from Golden Slipper winner Courtza, O’Reilly was a dual Group I winning sprinter miler, whose class and brilliance has proven a perfect foil for the stamina rich New Zealand bloodlines.

O’Reilly sired 96 stakes-winners highlighted by 15 Group I winners with his stakes-winner to runner rate coming in at 6.8%.

Remarkably, as a broodmare sire his stats are very similar.

His daughters have produced 92 stakes-winners including 16 Group I winners at 6.6% stakes-winners to runners!

Working massively in O’Reilly’s favour has been his affinity with both Zabeel and Danehill blood with 11 of his 16 Group I winners as a broodmare sire fitting that profile being sired by stallions from those two lines.

Investors currently perusing the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling catalogue will see there are 10 entries from O’Reilly mares (click to see them) including five by Savabeel, that highly successful nick running at 14% stakes-winners to runners.

O’Reilly has had several sons go to stud in New Zealand in Shamexpress, Alamosa and the ill-fated Sacred Falls, but the real future for his male sireline rests in Australia with Yulong based Grunt and Newgate Farm’s Brutal.

Grunt

Grunt produced over 140 foals last spring and covered another 162 mares in 2020, while Brutal covered 177 mares in his first season at stud.

Brutal
Both stallions are completely free of Danehill blood and were top class Group I sprinter milers so don’t be surprised to see them excel in a genetic landscape that looks highly compatible to their talents.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Karaka Graduates Honoured at New Zealand Horse of the Year Awards
The champions of New Zealand’s 2024-25 season were crowned during the Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton on Sunday night, where four Karaka graduates were named the standouts of their respective categories.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 10
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
I Am Invincible Stallion Chasing Black Type in NZ
Tardelli has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focussed on adding a top level performance to boost his future stallion prospects.
Promising Ole Kirk 3yo Regal Award Simply Too Good
Improving off a last start fifth behind Space Rider over 1200m at Moonee Valley, the Phillip Stokes trained Regal Award didn’t disappoint as the race favourite in Sportsbet BlackBook Plate (1300m) on the Sandown Hillside course on Wednesday, scoring with ease.
Zoustar Mare Joliestar Confirmed for Everest
Chris Waller Racing have today confirmed their slot for this year’s $20million Everest will be filled by five year-old Zoustar mare Joliestar, who is set to resume in the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill this Saturday.
Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale-Topper Salutes
Bought by Yulong for $700,000 to top the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale last year, three year-old Justify (USA) colt Officiate opened his account with a determined win in testing conditions at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Yulong Double With Justify and Waller
The Yulong colours were in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by a pair of promising horses by Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) with a maiden win for three year-old colt Officiate followed by a super impressive return for lightly raced four year-old mare Mergeila.
Balaklava Cup Victory For Puissance de Lune’s Inform Sav On Ice
Starting well in the market off the back of his solid recent form, the Darryl Carrison trained Sav On Ice was contesting his first black type race, and took home the prize, winning the Listed SAJC Balaklava Cup (1600m) on Wednesday.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Are You Sending a Mare to Cogburn?
Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded on Tuesday with the rise of exciting young sire Not This Time as a big player on the world stage well and truly illustrated with 22 of his yearlings selling at an average $805,682.