O'Reilly Colts Sold To Leading Aussie Stables (February 2 2010)

Australian trainers Robert Smerdon and Chris Waller snared prized lots from WS at Karaka today as the curtain fell on the Premier Sale. The Melbourne-based Smerdon went to $330,000 for an O'Reilly colt out of the Snippets mare And A Curl, a sister to Gr 1 Galaxy Handicap winner Sublimate and Gr 3 winner Dancing Hombre.

"He was one of the most looked at horses in the draft so we thought he would sell pretty well and we're very happy with the way the Premier Sale has gone," Mark Chittick said. "We've put 41 horses through and sold 35 so it's gone pretty much according to plan. The way the O'Reillys and Pins' have sold has been particularly satisfying."

Sydney conditioner Chris Waller went to $290,000 for an O'Reilly colt out of the Centaine mare Centa Belt. She is a half-sister to Master Belt, who provided trainer Kevin Gray with his first Gr 1 winner when he landed the 2001 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, and stakes winners Minnie Belt and Buckle Your Belt.

A half-brother by Pins to Listed Soliloquy Stakes winner Masquerade was knocked down to trans-Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson for $250,000 while an O'Reilly colt went to New South Wales for $220,000. He is out of the Danasinga mare Etoile Centieme and is a half-brother to listed Widden Stakes winner Delta Girl.

Champion Singapore trainer Laurie Laxon chased and landed a well-credentialled O'Reilly filly for $160,000. A sister to the Group-performed Spinner's Magic, she is out of the Twig Moss mare Anne Of Tudor who is a half-sister to Gr 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Hermod and the family of dual Gr 2 winner Hire (Theo Marks Handicap, Royal Sovereign Stakes).

New South Wales interests went to $160,000 for a daughter of Pins from Zephyr O', an O'Reilly daughter of Gr 2 NZ Thoroughbred breeders' Stakes winner Zephyr Magic. International Gr 1 winner Starcraft also features in her pedigree.

Major New Zealand buyer David Ellis liked what he saw of an O'Reilly filly from Centelise and snared her for $100,000. She is from the outstanding Gr 1 family of Grosvenor (VRC Derby, Caulfield Guineas) and National galley (WS Derby).