O'Reilly Does it Again in Hong Kong

O'Reilly continued his dominance of the Hong Kong Sires Table since claiming the championship last season when his outstanding son Unique Jewellery scored victory in the HK$3,000,000 HK-2 Mercedes Benz Derby Trial (1800m).

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�Unique Jewellery�connections. From right to left, John�Size, Mr Tung, and Olivier Doleuze��� PHOTO: HKJC

A precursor to the HK$16,000,000 (NZ$3,940,000 approx.) HK-1 Mercedes - Benz Hong Kong Derby (2000m), the Derby Trial attracted a field containing all of the major contenders aiming at the prestigious 22 March feature. Karaka graduate Unique Jewellery (O'Reilly - Aulide, by Snippets) was super impressive in his first start beyond 1600m, completing arguably the toughest run in transit where he was caught wide throughout, before still having enough ability and toughness to sprint over the top of the field late.

Ridden by Frenchman Olivier Doleuze for the very first time, the son of O'Reilly won by a short head from fellow fast finisher King's Falcon (Efisio) in a time of 1.48.93. Third place went to another kiwi-bred Karaka graduate in Legend of Colour (Kaapstad-Nuance, by Star Way) who raced in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby as Avancer from the McKee stable before arriving in Hong Kong.

Unique Jewellery has now won six of ten races in Hong Kong for trainer John Size, only once finishing worse than fourth position, with HK$4,541,050 in earnings.

An NZ$80,000 selection by John Cameron for the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the Karaka Premier Sale in January 2006, the bay gelding was then sold through the Hong Kong Jockey Club International Sale in November 2006, a period of nine months in which his three-quarter sister Marju Snip (Marju by Last Tycoon) won four races including the Group 1 SAJC Australasian Oaks.

Bought at the International Sale for HK$4,000,000, Unique Jewellery was secured by current owner Tung Moon Fai on the advice of New Zealand Bloodstock's International Bloodstock Manager John Cameron.

Cameron recalls, "Mr Tung asked me to select a horse in the Sale for him, and after inspecting the entire catalogue, I advised him to purchase what I thought was a most outstanding athlete, an individual by O'Reilly."

"He went for a bit more than we had estimated but Mr Tung held firm and purchased the gelding and then asked me to name him. Mr Tung's racehorses in Hong Kong all carry the word jewellery as that is his business, and I thought the gelding was unique from initial purchase out of the Waikato Stud draft at Karaka in January, to his outstanding breeze before the International Sale in November."

Unique Jewellery he was thus named and he provided O'Reilly with his eighteenth win as a sire in Hong Kong this season, after twenty one in 2007-08. The Waikato Stud based sire has had phenomenal success in Asia, as well as Australasia, with outstanding gallopers like of Walsburg's Pride - Fellowship (NZ), Kildare, and Big Maverick, as well as Unique Jewellery all waving their hands high already this season.

John Cameron believes a big part of this success is to do with their adaptability.

"Obviously O'Reilly installs a great amount of ability in his offspring, and that, complimented by their marvelous temperaments, has produced tough, genuine racehorses that are able to adjust easily too many different racing environments."

The Hong Kong Jockey Club purchased 25 yearlings at the Karaka 2009 Premier Sale, five of which were colts by O'Reilly. Lots 36, 42, 305, 401 and 424 averaged $185,000 apiece and they will be split between the Hong Kong International Sale and the Subscription Griffin Scheme.

Unique Jewellery will start next in the 'big one', the HK$16,000,000 HK-1 Mercedes - Benz Hong Kong Derby (2000m), on March 22, along with a possible six other kiwi-breds. With the Derby being amongst the most prestigious races in Hong Kong, three of the five Derbies since Mercedes-Benz took over the sponsorship in 2004 have been won by New Zealand gallopers including Lucky Owners, Vengeance of Rain and Vital King.

Kiwi hopefuls this year include: