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Spy Major (Sky Major) recorded one of the fastest last halves ever posted on the Oamaru track when he won impressively yesterday on debut. Driver Sam Thornley took the Daniel Reardon trained gelding straight the top. He dominated the sectionals and the three year old went down to the line to win easily by two […]
It’s just a six race card at Gore on Sunday and Ashburton trainers Brent and Tim White head south with three runners. Race Three: Jazzy Upstart (Downbytheseaside) -driver Sarah O’Reilly – FR3. Race Four: Ridge (What The Hill) – driver Sarah O’Reilly – UR1-25 metres. Race Six: Carrera Bravo (Downbytheseaside) – driver Sarah O’Reilly – […]
Smart three year old Forever Miki (Always B Miki) was back at the trials at Addington on Tuesday and he has some lofty targets in the spring. The Brent and Tim White trained three year old won his first three starts before running Jumal to a neck at start four. He then finished second to […]
Sarah O’Reilly has two drives at Addington’s meeting today with both runners paying under $2.00. Firstly today, in Race 5, the Winky Cross Dulcet Tones Pace (5.04pm) over 2000m, O’Reilly links up with Bettabe Lou ($1.60FF), trained by her father Gerard. The three-year-old Sweet Lou filly has had two starts so far in her career, […]
Ashburton trainers Brent and Tim White look to have a nice three year old on their hands judging by the way Forever Miki (Always B Miki) put away a tidy field in yesterday’s Kotare Downs Three Year Old Stakes at Rangiora. Once the field settled into order, driver Sarah O’Reilly had Forever Miki three back […]
The Drivers’ Challenge looks set to highlight action at today’s Methven meeting at Mt Harding. With four teams of three, each of the invited driver races provide an opportunity for a penalty free win for the winning horse’s connections. Representing the local Methven team are Leo, Gerard and Sarah O’Reilly, who look to have a […]
You can’t beat a trotter in form and at the moment Moses (Father Patrick) has the form line of a very good trotter. His win in the $20,000 Kim McDowall Painting Trotting Cup at Gore today was his third win in six starts. Trained by Gerard O’Reilly and driven by his daughter Sarah, the six […]
Three times New Zealand Junior Driver Premiership winner Sarah O’Reilly took her first successful step into the training ranks today at Nelson when she trained and drove Bizza To’o (Muscle Mass) to win. “It was pretty cool because you put a lot of work into horses. I’ve had a few and it hasn’t worked out […]
When American Me (American Ideal) combined to win the 2023 edition of the Invercargill Cup, it was a transitional moment for driver Sarah O’Reilly. It seemed to signal her evolution from champion junior harness racing driver to genuine big race contender. Dominating the junior driver’s premiership for three years, it proved that with opportunities at […]
When Australian driver Luke McCarthy takes the reins on Kingman (Always B Miki) in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup it’ll be his third drive in the great race. His first drive was on Washakie in 2009 which finished fourteenth and his second on For A Reason which ran third in 2014. He might not […]
After sixteen months away from the racetrack, mid-Canterbury reinswoman Sarah O’Reilly was back winning and saluting the judge at Oamaru today. O’Reilly had a training accident at the Ashburton track in July of last year, breaking the humerus bone in her arm. It required surgery, but a subsequent CT scan revealed she would need a […]
After 15 months away one of the country’s brightest harness racing talents Sarah O’Reilly will return to competitive driving at Addington on Friday night. “I definitely missed it,” says O’Reilly, “and I am ready and good to go.” The Ashburton-based trainer-driver has been off the scene since July 2024 when a horse literally jumped into […]
Mid-Canterbury reinswoman Sarah O’Reilly is back doing light duties at Brent and Tim White’s Ashburton barn. O’Reilly had a training accident at the Ashburton track in July of last year, breaking the humerus bone in her arm. It required surgery, but a subsequent CT scan revealed she would need a plate in her arm to […]
Ashburton harness racing horsewoman Sarah O’Reilly has a bit longer to wait before she’s able to return to race day driving. O’Reilly had a training accident at the Ashburton track in May last year, breaking the humerus bone in her arm. “After a CT scan they said the break wasn’t healing properly and they want […]
The news isn’t good for two of the country’s top harness racing drivers who are facing longer than expected recoveries after recent setbacks. Sarah O’Reilly won’t be back in the sulky this year after breaking her arm in July while Benjamin Butcher says he’s got weeks of physio on his shoulder before he returns to […]
Mid-Canterbury harness racing driver Sarah O’Reilly is not enjoying having to be at home while she recovers from a training accident. The accident which happened at the Ashburton track in July, saw her snap the humerus bone in her arm. She also broke her cheek bone and her eye socket, in two places. “I went […]
Ashburton harness racing driver Sarah O’Reilly who is recuperating from a training accident, is hopeful of teaming up with American Me (American Ideal) in this November’s IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington. “I hope so, unless the wheels really fall off,” O’Reilly said. O’Reilly was involved in a training accident that saw her break the […]
Part two of the Brent and Tim White harness racing story explores more about Tim who’s been training in partnership with his father since 2022. “I always loved them and had fantasy punts when I was a young fella. I lived with Granddad and he was a $2 each way man. I always sat at […]
A cold Addington Raceway last night offered up a bit of warmth to Leeston harness racing trainer Paul Nairn when he achieved a trotting double with Forgiveness (Father Patrick) and Tectonic (Majestic Son). Driven by Bob Butt, Forgiveness won the TK Plastering Trot, beating Aspirational Dream by four lengths. FORGIVENESS REPLAY After getting away safety […]
The Ashburton trained Clonakilty (Downbytheseaside) showed a bit of class today when he easily won the $22,000 Anne Thompson Pacers Graduation Final at the Rangiora Harness Racing Club meeting. Driver Sarah O’Reilly settled the four year old back in the field. Clonakilty improved three wide with just over a lap to run and cruised down […]
Sarah O’Reilly produced a harness racing masterclass when she piloted American Me (American Ideal) to win the $50,000 Listed Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap Pace at Alexandra Park in Auckland tonight (May 17). O’Reilly made full use of her front line draw and once the seven year old stepped, the opposition’s chances faded as she paced […]
Ryal Bush trained Takeitout (Captaintreacherous) looks to be a serious contender for the $40,000 Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Speed final at the Winton Harness Racing Club’s meeting in sixteen days. The imposing four year old mare who’s trained by Brett Gray won her second heat of the series at Wyndham today in the hands of […]
It was a coming of age yesterday for the Ashburton harness racing duo of Brent and Tim White and their stable driver Sarah O’Reilly when they all won their first Group One race. “It’s mind blowing for us and just continues a great year we’ve had. It’s not easy every day, but days like today […]
Top Kiwi junior Sarah O’Reilly has gone from first equal to second equal after the latest harness racing heats in the 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships (AYDC) in Queensland. Her best result on night two of the championships at Redcliffe last night was a third in the sixth heat with Connies Spirit to have 45 […]
