Maco'Reilly Seals Second Group 1

Ellerslie on Saturday staged a head to head battle between Karaka graduates Sir Slick and Maco'Reilly with the latter sealing a narrow victory for his second consecutive Group 1 for trainer David Howarth.

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�Maco'reilly in full flight in his first Group 1 victory

The Group 1 ARC New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at weight-for-age saw a field of nine runners compete for the $200,000 in prize money, four of them, including Maco'Reilly (O'Reilly - Double Babu, by Centaine), Sir Slick (Volksraad), Dezigna (Volksraad), and Gallions Reach (Victory Dance), had won Group 1 races within their last five starts.

After a battle that ensued from the top of the straight, jockey Hayden Tinsley managed to get his mount up in the shadows of the post by a neck.

Trainer David Howarth was ecstatic in his charges ninth victory, taking his earnings to�$380,000, while 'Mac's' mother, Double Babu,� had saved the trainer $1,000 in prizemoney back in 2001.

Double Babu was purchased by current owner Jim Wallace of Ardsley Stud in 2001 after the mare by Centaine had placed in Sydney for trainer Graeme Rogerson. Wallace paid A$33,000 for the racing and breeding prospect out of Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Plume (Crested Wave), and brought her back to New Zealand with the aim of winning a race and putting her to stud.

Wallace trained the mare for two placings, her last race finishing a head second in a fillies and mares 1400m event at Woodville after interference from winner Caramel Queen (Turbulent Dancer), trained by Howarth. A protest from jockey Chris Rauhihi was dually lodged as Jim Wallace jovially accounts, "She deserved to win that race in the enquiry room but David is a very good talker".

Double Babu had to settle for second, while Howarth went on to capture black type with Caramel Queen in the Group 3 WRC Desert Gold Stakes. Double Babu's racing career ended with a couple of second placings in both Australia and New Zealand and in her first season at stud, she visited Ardsley resident Lord Ballina. The mating resulted in a 'magnificent colt' which was unfortunately in a paddock accident before reaching the racetrack.

Her second foal is Maco'Reilly and he was sold to Howarth for $40,000 by Ardsley Stud at the Karaka Select Yearling Sale of 2005.

"He had the frame as a yearling. He had such a lovely relaxed manner, he was a real easy goer, and you could just see that he was going to grow into a lovely individual in time."

Double Babu went onto produce fillies by Pins, Howbaddouwantit, and Elusive City, all who sold through Karaka successfully, the latter, Lot 1122 , being sold to Howarth for $60,000 at Karaka 2009.

Wallace also informed that Double Babu has an outstanding weanling colt by first season sire Fast N Famous at foot, and is currently in foal to One Cool Cat. Although a decision is yet to be finalised it is likely that, given the success of Maco'Reilly, Double Babu will return to O'Reilly this season .

O'Reilly's seventh Group 1 winner now heads to the paddock for a few days,�with plans for the future yet to be confirmed.