Half-Brother to Vigor at Karaka 2009

Across the Tasman at the weekend, Vigor (O'Reilly - Rationable, by Housebuster) made it five wins in a row in Melbourne on Saturday in the Comedy King Handicap (2520m), winning by three-quarters of a length from fellow Karaka graduate Chase the Sun (Pentire - Glimmer, by Dance Floor).

The smart gelding has continued to improve after he ran sixth in last season's Group 1 South Australian Derby, running tidy fourth and second placings as a four year old, before winning five on the trot from 1600m to 2520m. The streak eclipsed trainer Danny O'Brien's previous record of four in a row completed by fellow Waikato Stud-bred and Karaka graduate Gallopin (Pins - Carla Rossi by Spectacular Love), winner of the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup this season.

Vigor was purchased from Waikato Stud at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for $60,000 by Danny O'Brien, and the O'Reilly gelding has now won seven times and amassed A$319,530 in earnings. Waikato Stud will present a half-brother to Vigor at the Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 192 by champion sire Zabeel.

Out of Rationable, the colt is a half-brother to four winners including outstanding two-year-old Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Needed), winner of the Listed (Restricted) $1,000,000 ARC Karaka Million and the Listed WRC Wellesley Stakes.

Vigor has the Caulfield Cup as a long term target now, with trainer Danny O'Brien drawing favourable comparisons between this son of O'Reilly and his Group 1Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly.

""Master O'Reilly was a similar sort of four year old as him, beating the off-season horses and then he measured up as a five-year-old in the Caulfield Cup."

"He's a very casual sort of horse, a great demeanour for a stayer."

Weekend racing in Australia also provided significant updates to the following lots at Karaka 2009:

Lot 261- Colt by General Nediym x Springburn: Half-sister Spring Dane (King of Danes) winner of the Queanbeyan RC Actew Agl Maiden Plate (1100m).

Lot 278 - Filly by Evstroem x Stretto: Half-brother Kincharm (Ebony Grosve) winner of the Camperdown TC Camperdown Cup (1600m).

Lot 434 - Colt by Rock of Gibraltar x Dancing Pago: Half-sister Dance Across (Giant's Causeway) winner of the WATC Wanneroo Gas & Air Handicap (1400m).

Lot 1408 - Filly by Ustinov x Royal Act: Half-brother Shutupanshuffle (Faltaat) winner of the Mornington RC Winelounge Handicap (1520m).