O’Reilly had winning feeling through the long drive home

By Pat McLeod

Peter O’Reilly’s smile was extra wide during the five-hour drive from Bundaberg to his kennels near Ipswich through late Monday afternoon.

Earlier that day his veteran chasers had hit a purple patch at the ‘Bundy on a Mundy’ Oaks and Derby meeting.

O’Reilly’s Kasey’s Money (now 93 starts) had won the Bundaberg Derby Final over 531 metres.

Kennel mate Rebel Blaster (52 starts) had placed second.

In the Oaks Final, another from the same kennel, Tarawi Lola (79 starts) had run an impressive second to Paul McIlveen’s Princess Penny.

Allan Thrower’s Miss Slimm was third.

Even the fact that O’Reilly had not had a dollar on Kasey’s Money - starting price $71 - could not dim his mood.

“I was very happy with the results. It was worth the drive,” he said, with just a slight hint of understatement.

“I have been going to the Bundaberg meetings for a long time. I really like it there and actually enjoy the drive.

“If you can go there and win one race you are doing really well and everything after that is a bonus.”

Kasey’s Money earned $5,005 for Monday’s Derby win. The same amount O’Reilly won for winning the Bundaberg Cup with Port Lisa in 2018.

He also won that same Cup in 2020 with Flying Jet. The winner’s cheque then was $25,000. This year it was $75,000.

Kasey’s Money led for the majority of Monday’s Final and showed plenty of tenacity to hit the line ahead of Rebel Blaster, with Ron Brook’s Kick Son third.

The winning time was 30.70 seconds. 

“Kasey's Money always chases hard, but I didn't consider him my best hope in the race,” O’Reilly said. 

“I thought the three (Rebel Blaster) was a much bigger hope. But, he did alright to run second.

“Kasey's Money pops up every now and again for a win. He is a good bread and butter dog.

“He can run that distance (531 metres) pretty well and I was quite happy with his run. I just wish I had a backed him.”

O’Reilly said Rebel Blaster was showing signs of finally showing his true worth.

“I actually rate this dog,” he said.

“He is now just turning around his fortunes, which probably seems a little crazy after 52 starts, but he's just starting to work it out now.

“His form is really starting to lift. He certainly is a late bloomer and his whole litter is the same.

“I have no doubt that he will continue to race well. He is really loving his racing more than ever.”

Hot favourite ($1.90) in the Bundaberg Derby, David Plummer’s Smart And Classy, struck interference while on a surging run and finished fifth.

O’Reilly also believes Tarawi Lola is far from a spent force.

The well-bred bitch (Fernando Bale – Powered) has just had seven of her 79 starts with O’Reilly after he bought her from New South Wales Central Coast’s Lorraine Atchison.

“She won at her first start with me, at Bundaberg, without having seen the track before,” he said.

“I like the look of her and would be keen to breed from her in the future.

“I think she has got potential to do well at both Ipswich and Albion Park over the 600 metres.”

O’Reilly intends placing her in this Saturday’s Col Harris Gold Sovereign over 630 metres heats at Ipswich.

“If she can draw an inside box and get away well on Saturday night, she will certainly give them something to think about,” he said.

O’Reilly is again having a strong year with the collar and lead. At Ipswich he leads the trainers’ prize money tally there and is second to Pauline Byers in the points tally.