Thy Maintains O’Reilly’s Hot Streak

Progeny of New Zealand’s Champion sire O’Reilly are running hot on both sides of the Tasman with racing in Sydney on Saturday seeing the Peter Moody trained Thy head a Karaka quinella in the A$100,000 Listed Sharp Aspiration Handicap (1600m).

O’Reilly saw his son Shamexpress win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap just nine days ago and celebrated a stakes double on the weekend with O'Fille winning the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes at Trentham and Thy (O’Reilly x Star Affair) winning the last race at Sydney.

The win was Thy’s first at stakes level and she was given a well weighted front running ride by jockey Luke Nolen who took the mare straight to the front and held off the challenge of fellow karaka graduate Crafty Irna (Starcraft) to win by a short head.

Thy proved a competitive filly last season finishing fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes to Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) and then finishing third to Strema (Stratum) in the Group 1 Australian Oaks.

Bred by Peters Equine Trust & T W Archer Trust, Thy is raced by Waikato Stud who stand O’Reilly and she has now won three of her ten starts for over A$200,000 in stakes.

Thy was purchased by Waikato Stud from Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $600,000. She is the 65th stakes winner for her sire O’Reilly who has sired 11 stakes winners in Australasia so far this season.