Esmarelda gives Gerard O’Reilly his 700

Mid-Canterbury horseman Gerard O’Reilly drove his 700th win at the Timaru Harness Racing meeting at Phar Lap Raceway today when Esmarelda (Always B Miki) cleared out for an impressive win.

“I’ve only had her for a couple of weeks. She just came down to my place to get more experience with other horses and the Ashburton track gives her a bit more variety. It seems to have helped her,” O’Reilly said.

Esmarelda qualified for part -owner Brian Kerr at Ashburton last year and had her first start at Motukarara last month when she broke and finished last.

“She’s not so good at the standing start and that’s why he gave her to me. I took her to the Addington trials, and she got a pass behind the mobile there. Then she went to the Methven Workouts last Sunday and performed nicely.”

In today’s race the mare was left parked after the early rush, then O’Reilly took her to the front. Encouraged all the way up the straight the four year old extended nicely to win by six lengths.

ESMARELDA REPLAY

“She still doesn’t really know what to do. Coming down the big long straight I just wanted to keep her mind on the job. She just keeps going and probably lacks a real sharp quarter. What speed she got she can sustain for a longer time.”

Gerard’s daughter Sarah was at Timaru today to congratulate her father on his milestone. She continues to be sidelined recovering from a nasty accident on the Ashburton track last year.

“She had an operation on Monday. They put two plates in her arm and gave her a bone graft so hopefully that will help her heal. It’ll be another three months or more.”

Gerard’s first winner was Yellow Ribbon at Akaroa in October 1982 which was trained by his father Patrick.

His three Group One wins have all been with Tiger Tara trained by Geoff Dunn; The New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final, Northern Derby and New Zealand FFA.

He’s driven 73 winners for Geoff, 49 for his father Patrick O’Reilly and 36 for Geoffrey Kelk.

The best horses Gerard has driven have been Anne Franco (11) Master Bomber (10) and Tiger Tara (13).

“He (Tiger Tara) was one out of the box and just a great horse. He did whatever you wanted him to do. He had a great attitude and never tightened a rein in a race. He would go out of the gate and come back to you straight away. You could drive him tough and on his day he could sprint home a bit too.”

55 of O’Reilly’s wins have been at the Mt Harding Raceway at Methven including the Methven Cup win with Corka Dream for Robert Dunn, the Trotters Green Mile with Master Bomber for his father in-law Hubert Christey, and two Pacer Green Miles with Glencoe VC and Mossdale Conner, both trained by Greg and Nina Hope.

“I’ve driven a lot of Country Cup winners. Laver won an Ashburton and a Northern Southland Cup.”

Collectively the four O’Reilly brothers have driven 2,325 winners with Patrick Jnr leading the siblings with 758, Gerard 700, Leo 483 and Kerry 384. Their father Patrick Snr drove 196 winners.

“We all did our own thing. Patrick probably retired too early. He could have driven 1000 winners if he’d carried on driving.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink