Phoenix Park owner Janine Dunlop has been busy counting the pedigree updates for her O’Reilly – Star Affair filly catalogued as Lot 189 for the upcoming NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

The filly’s 3yo half-brother Galileo’s Galaxy (Galileo) was G1 placed in the South African Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on December 19 and her 5yo half-brother Solid Billing (Rock of Gibraltar) scored a G3 victory in the AJC Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day.

There could be more updates for the O’Reilly – Star Affair filly before the New Zealand sale gets underway on February 1.

Galileo’s Galaxy is trained by Charles Laird for Marcus Jooste .  He set a solid tempo in the Guineas and didn’t go down without a fight.  He saw off several challenges before Noordhoek Flyer (Pivotal) picked him off to score by a length.

Galileo’s Galaxy was the only Gautang galloper that travelled to Kenilworth and Laird has several feature race options with him during the Cape carnival in January.

Solid Billing claimed the Summer Cup after trainer Craig Ritchie decided to go ahead with a hit-and-run raid to Randwick.  The Takanini-based stayer had been placed behind NZ Oaks winner Boundless in the G2 Counties Cup at Pukekohe last month.

Solid Billing stalked tearaway leader Scouting Wide before establishing a winning break in the straight at Randwick.  Late closer Zazabeau reduced the margin to a length and change.  “He’s by Rock of Gibraltar but gets that stamina from his dam Star Affair,” Ritchie explained.  “She was a tough staying mare from a really great old Kiwi family.”

Solid Billing will cross the Tasman again in April for the G1 AJC Sydney Cup.  He failed to reach a $150,000 reserve at the 2006 NZB Premier yearling sale but has now won 7 races and earned over $640,000.

Star Affair (Star Way) was a G2 winner of the Travis Stakes in New Zealand.  Her Karaka filly from Phoenix Park is a three-quarter sister Champion Kiwi 3yo Filly The Jewel (O’Reilly) and The One (O’Reilly).  The latter was a G3 winner of the VRC Danehill Stakes at Flemington before continuing his career in Hong Kong.

Dunlop will offer four O’Reilly yearlings in both the Premier and Select Sales.  Her overall Karaka draft comprises 23 lots.